te quiero, hermana
The English phrase "I love you, sister" is translated into Spanish as te quiero, hermana.
This phrase is an expression of affection used to tell a female sibling that you love her. In this context, hermana means "sister".
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Spain, people often use the phrase Te quiero, hermana when expressing love for their sister informally.
How does it change in a sentence?
You can use the diminutive hermanita instead of hermana to make the expression of affection sound more tender or affectionate.
Did you know?
- The word hermana shares a common ancestor with the English word 'germane', meaning closely related or relevant. They both stem from the Latin 'germānus', which originally referred to a sibling born of the same parents.
- In certain religious communities, hermana is used as a formal title for a nun, making the phrase te quiero, hermana a way to express platonic love for a member of a convent.
- In many Spanish-speaking cultures, you might hear someone call a close female friend hermana or even mana as a term of endearment. This uses the kinship term to signal a deep, non-biological bond.
Examples in context
- Sabes que te quiero, hermana.You know that I love you, sister.
Example conversation
Javier is saying goodbye to Elena at the airport.
- Elena¡Buen viaje, Javier!Have a good trip, Javier!
- JavierGracias, Elena. Te quiero, hermana.Thanks, Elena. I love you, sister.
- ElenaYo también te quiero mucho.I love you very much too.
- JavierNos vemos pronto.See you soon.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries hermana, te, CC BY-SA 4.0.