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 noun refers to a male person in relation to his parents. The capitalized form Hijo can also refer to one of the three persons of the Trinity.
Which one should you use?
You may encounter retoño, which is a colloquial way to refer to a son. The feminine form of the noun is hija, meaning daughter.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
retoño is a colloquial term often used affectionately or poetically to mean offspring or sprout.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The masculine plural form hijos can mean 'sons' or it can be used as a gender-neutral term to mean 'children' (sons and daughters).
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈixo/
Did you know?
- The phrase hijo de puta is a common and versatile insult that can range from a severe condemnation to an expression of grudging admiration for someone's cleverness.
- The word hijo used to start with an 'f' sound, written as fijo in Old Spanish, before the 'f' evolved into a silent 'h'.
- In many Spanish-speaking cultures, calling someone hijo or hijito is a common way for older people to show warmth to younger strangers, even if there is no biological relation.
Examples in context
- Amo a mi hijo.I love my son.This sentence is useful for expressing affection for your 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.Tatoeba #1953340 by hayastan, translation #1114155 by Scott
- ¡Buenos días, hijo!Good morning, son!
- Por favor, dígale al hijo de la señora Rodríguez que ha llegado su madre.Please tell Mrs. Rodríguez's son that his mother has arrived.
- El príncipe heredero es el vástago de la familia real.The heir to the throne is the son of the royal family.
- ¡Señor, su vástago ha obtenido el primer puesto en el examen!Sir, your son has achieved first place in the exam!
- ¿Cómo estás, hijito?How are you, son?
- Ven aquí, hijito, déjame darte un abrazo.Come here, son, let me give you a hug.
- Mi niño, estás creciendo tan rápido.My son, you're growing up so fast.
- 549 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Lucía and Alejandro are looking at a family photo.
- LucíaQuién es el niño de la foto?Who is the boy in the photo?
- AlejandroÉl es mi hijo menor.He is my youngest son.
- LucíaEs muy parecido a ti.He looks a lot like you.
- AlejandroSí, 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.
