hijo único
/ˌixo ˈuniko/
The English phrase "only child" is translated into Spanish as hijo único.
hijo único is used to describe a person who has no brothers or sisters.
Which one should you use?
While English uses the gender-neutral term "only child", Spanish requires you to select a form based on the gender of the person: use hijo único for a male and hija única for a female.
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase must agree in gender with the person being described. Use hija única when referring to an only daughter or a female only child. If you are referring to a group of people who are all only children, you use the plural form hijos únicos.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˌixo ˈuniko/
Did you know?
- The word hijo evolved from the Old Spanish fijo, reflecting a historical phonetic shift where the 'f' sound transitioned to a silent 'h'.
- In many Spanish-speaking cultures, if a person is an hijo único, they might be jokingly referred to as being 'spoiled' by their parents. The term carries a slight cultural stereotype of receiving undivided attention.
- Even though único means 'only', it is also used in Spanish to describe something that is 'unique' or 'extraordinary'. Calling someone an hijo único is a factual description, but calling something único is a high compliment.
Examples in context
- Tom es hijo único.Tom is an only child.This sentence is useful for stating that Tom is an hijo único.Tatoeba #1185444 by Shishir, translation #2338949 by marcelostockle
- "¿Tienes algún hermano?" "No, soy hijo único.""Do you have any siblings?" "No, I'm an only child."This example shows how to respond to a question about having siblings by using hijo único.Tatoeba #534078 by Shishir, translation #6148 by Zifre
- ¿Eres hijo único?Are you an only child?This sentence is used to ask someone if they are an hijo único.Tatoeba #1233183 by marcelostockle, translation #953098 by CK
- Es el hijo únicoHe is the only child
- Es la hija únicaShe is the only child
- María es hija única en su familia.María is an only child in her family.
- Juan es el consentido de sus padres. Es el único hijo.Juan is the spoiled one in his family. He is the only child.
- Soy hijo único y tengo una relación cercana con mis primos.I am an only child and have a close relationship with my cousins.
- Mis amigos me llaman "el consentido" porque soy el único hijo.My friends call me "the spoiled one" because I am the only child.
- 3 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Daniel and María are talking about their families at school.
- DanielMaría, ¿tienes hermanos o eres hija única?María, do you have siblings or are you an only child?
- MaríaSoy hija única, pero tengo muchos primos.I am an only child, but I have many cousins.
- DanielQué suerte, yo no soy hijo único.How lucky, I am not an only child.
- MaríaEntonces tienes hermanos, ¿verdad, Daniel?So you have siblings, right, Daniel?
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry hijo único, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries hijo, único, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
