hijo no nato
/ixo no nato/from spelling rules
The English phrase "unborn child" is translated into Spanish as hijo no nato.
hijo no nato is used to refer to a human offspring that is developing in the uterus.
Meaning: human offspring that is developing in the uterus (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of hijo (son/child), no (not) and nato (born), literally meaning "not born child".
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
In medical or legal contexts, the term feto is more common than hijo no nato. The technical term producto de la concepción is used in medical documentation. For an informal way to refer to the unborn child, you can use the expression bebé en camino, which means "baby on the way".
Did you know?
- While hijo no nato is a literal translation, Spanish speakers frequently use the phrase esperando un bebé to describe the state of pregnancy, focusing on the act of waiting rather than the biological status.
- The word nato shares the same root as the English word 'native', as both derive from the Latin nātus, meaning 'born'.
- The term hijo is used generically for 'child' in this phrase, regardless of whether the biological sex of the unborn baby is known to be male or female.
Examples in context
- El feto se encuentra en buen estadoThe unborn child is in good health
- La ley protege los derechos del nonatoThe law protects the rights of the unborn child
- Ya estamos esperando un bebé en caminoWe are already expecting a baby on the way
Example conversation
Elena and Daniel are discussing their pregnancy at home.
- ElenaSiento que el hijo no nato se mueve mucho.I feel like the unborn child is moving a lot.
- DanielEs increíble sentir esa conexión, Elena.It is incredible to feel that connection, Elena.
- ElenaQuiero que todo esté perfecto para él.I want everything to be perfect for him.
- DanielLo estará, Daniel cuidará de ambos.It will be, Daniel will take care of both of you.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries hijo, nato, no, CC BY-SA 4.0.
