hijo del medio
/ixo del medjo/from spelling rules
The English phrase "middle child" is translated into Spanish as hijo del medio.
This noun phrase refers to a child who is neither the oldest nor the youngest (noun).
Meaning: the child who is neither the oldest nor the youngest (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase hijo del medio literally translates to "son of the middle".
How does it change in a sentence?
If the middle child is female, use the feminine form hija del medio. To refer to multiple middle children (or a mixed-gender group), use the masculine plural hijos del medio.
Did you know?
- The word medio was borrowed directly from Latin rather than evolving naturally because the expected Spanish forms would have sounded too much like the word mear, meaning 'to piss'.
- In many Spanish-speaking cultures, the hijo mayor (oldest child) traditionally carries the heaviest responsibility for siblings, whereas the hijo del medio often navigates a more flexible social role within the family.
Examples in context
- Yo soy el hijo del medio.I am the middle child.
- Su hijo del medio es muy inteligente.Their middle child is very intelligent.
- Él siempre dice que es el hijo del medio.He always says he is the middle child.
Example conversation
Two friends are talking about their families during lunch.
- María¿Eres el mayor o el menor?Are you the oldest or the youngest?
- JavierSoy el hijo del medio de tres.I am the middle child of three.
- María¡Qué bien! Yo soy la mayor.That's nice! I am the oldest.
- JavierPues, mi hermano es el menor.Well, my brother is the youngest.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries del, hijo, medio, CC BY-SA 4.0.
