hijo
/ˈixo/masculine
The Spanish word for son is hijo. Wiktionary also lists retoño.
Meaning: a male person in relation to his parents (noun)
Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| hijo | /ˈixo/ | masculine |
| retoño | /reˈtoɲo/ | colloquial, masculine |
The term is used to describe a male person in relation to his parents. In a religious context, when the word is capitalized as Hijo, it refers specifically to the Son as one of the three persons of the Trinity.
What does it mean word for word?
The colloquial term retoño literally means 'sprout' and is used to refer to a son or offspring.
Which one should you use?
While hijo is the standard term, retoño is a more informal way to refer to one's offspring. Furthermore, the capitalized Hijo is reserved for religious references to the Holy Trinity.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
retoño is a colloquial term.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The feminine form of hijo is hija (daughter). The plural masculine form hijos can refer to a group of sons or a mixed-gender group of children.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈixo/
Did you know?
- In Spanish, the phrase hijos de puta is used as a strong insult, but in some contexts, it can be used colloquially among close friends to express admiration or surprise.
- The Spanish word hijo is a linguistic cousin of the English word 'filial', both descending from the Latin 'fīlius'.
- The word hijuela is a diminutive of hijo but is also used in legal Spanish to refer to a specific portion of an inheritance left to a child.
Examples in context
- Amo a mi hijo.I love my son.This sentence shows how to express affection for one's hijo.Tatoeba #1855391 by hayastan, translation #1855063 by Spamster
- Él es mi hijo.This is my son.This sentence is used to identify someone as one's hijo.Tatoeba #1901527 by hayastan, translation #1898101 by CK
- Él es tu hijo.He's your son.This sentence is used to identify someone as your hijo.Tatoeba #1953340 by hayastan, translation #1114155 by Scott
- Señor García, su hijo es un joven muy talentoso.Mr. García, your son is a very talented young man.
- 549 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
María and Javier are looking at a family photo.
- MaríaQuién es el niño en la foto?Who is the boy in the photo?
- JavierÉl es mi hijo mayor.He is my eldest son.
- MaríaSe parece mucho a ti, Javier.He looks a lot like you, Javier.
- JavierSí, mi hijo tiene mis ojos.Yes, my son has my eyes.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “son” translations and entries hijo, retoño, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries hijo, retoño, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
