te amo, hijo
/te ˈamo ˈixo/word by word
The English phrase "I love you, my son" can be translated into Spanish as te amo, hijo.
This phrase is an expression of deep affection from a parent to their male child.
What does it mean word for word?
Literally, te amo, hijo translates to "you I love, son".
Which one should you use?
While te amo, hijo expresses profound love, te quiero, hijo is a common alternative that is slightly less intense or profound, though both are used to convey deep affection.
How do you pronounce it?
/te ˈamo ˈixo/
Did you know?
- In some Latin American countries, a mother might refer to her son as mi amor or mi vida even more often than using the word hijo itself.
- The 'h' in hijo is completely silent, a remnant of the phonetic evolution from the Latin 'f' sound. This can be tricky for English speakers who expect 'h' to be aspirated.
- The word hijo is frequently used in a broader sense to refer to any male descendant, such as a grandson, or even as a term of endearment for a younger man who is not a biological relative.
Examples in context
- Te amo, mi querido hijoI love you, my dear son
- Recuerdo cuando aprendiste a andar en bicicleta, y esos momentos llenan mi corazón de amor. Te adoro, hijo.I remember when you learned to ride a bike, and those moments fill my heart with love. I adore you, son.
- Te amo, hijo, siempre.I love you, my son, always.
- Te amo, hijo, eres mi vida.I love you, my son, you are my life.
- No lo olvides, te amo, hijo.Don't forget it, I love you, my son.
Example conversation
A mother is saying goodbye to her son at the airport.
- SofíaTen mucho cuidado en tu viaje.Take great care on your trip.
- AlejandroGracias, mamá, te veré pronto.Thanks, mom, I will see you soon.
- SofíaTe amo, hijo, te extrañaré mucho.I love you, my son, I will miss you a lot.
- AlejandroYo también te amo, mamá.I love you too, mom.
