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 word is used to refer to a male person in relation to his parents.
Which one should you use?
While hijo is the standard term, the capitalized form Hijo refers specifically to the Son within the context of the Holy Trinity. The word retoño is used colloquially and literally means 'sprout' or 'offshoot'.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
For more formal or literary writing, you may use vástago. In informal or colloquial speech, you can use retoño.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The feminine form of hijo is hija (daughter). The plural masculine form hijos can refer specifically to a group of male sons or to a mixed-gender group of children.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈixo/
Did you know?
- The phrase hijo de… is the start of some of the most common and strongest insults in Spanish, often omitting the word 'puta' while still conveying the full meaning.
- The word hijo can be used in the phrase 'hijo de la guayaba' in certain Caribbean contexts to describe someone who is very easygoing or soft.
- In historical Spanish texts, you may find the word written as fijo, which reflects the transition from the Latin fīlius before the 'f' sound shifted to the silent 'h'.
Examples in context
- Amo a mi hijo.I love my son.This sentence is useful for expressing affection toward a hijo.Tatoeba #1855391 by hayastan, translation #1855063 by Spamster
- Él es mi hijo.This is my son.This sentence is useful for identifying someone as your hijo.Tatoeba #1901527 by hayastan, translation #1898101 by CK
- Él es tu hijo.He's your son.This sentence is useful for asking about or identifying someone's hijo.Tatoeba #1953340 by hayastan, translation #1114155 by Scott
- Mi hijo es muy inteligente.My son is very intelligent.
- ¡Hola, hijo! ¿Cómo te fue en la escuela hoy?Hi, son! How was school today?
- Mi hijo es muy talentoso.My son is very talented.
- Su hijito está creciendo rápido.Her little son is growing up fast.
- Mis hijos son muy traviesos.My sons are very mischievous.
- 549 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Two neighbors are chatting about their families in a park.
- Javier¿Cómo está tu hijo, Lucía?How is your son, Lucía?
- LucíaMi hijo está muy bien, gracias.My son is doing very well, thank you.
- JavierMe alegro mucho por tu hijo.I am very happy for your son.
- LucíaGracias, Javier, eres muy amable.Thank you, Javier, you are very kind.
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.
