hijo
“hijo” means “son” in Spanish. It has 3 different meanings depending on context:
son
Also: child
📝 In Action
Mi hijo mayor se llama Carlos.
A1My oldest son is named Carlos.
Tengo dos hijos y una hija.
A1I have two sons and one daughter.
El hijo de mi vecina es muy educado.
A2My neighbor's son is very polite.
son
Also: kid, my boy
📝 In Action
Ten cuidado en la calle, hijo.
B1Be careful on the street, son.
Gracias por la ayuda, hijo. Eres muy amable.
B1Thanks for the help, kid. You're very kind.
man!
Also: wow!, jeez!
📝 In Action
¡Hijo! Qué susto me diste.
B2Man! You scared me.
Se me olvidaron las llaves otra vez. ¡Hijo!
B2I forgot the keys again. Jeez!
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: hijo
Question 1 of 2
If a family has one boy and one girl, how would you refer to them together?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
Comes from the Latin word 'filius', which also meant 'son'. Over centuries, the 'f' sound at the beginning softened until it disappeared, and the 'li' sound transformed into the Spanish 'j' sound, giving us 'hijo'.
First recorded: Around the 10th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between 'hijo' and 'niño'?
'Hijo' always talks about a relationship: someone's son. 'Mi hijo' is 'my son'. 'Niño' just means 'boy' or 'child' in general, without mentioning who the parents are. 'El niño juega' means 'the boy is playing'.
How do I say 'children' in Spanish?
You can use 'hijos' to mean 'children' when talking about a specific family's kids (e.g., 'Sus hijos son altos' - 'Their children are tall'). If you're talking about children in general, like 'Children like to play', the word 'niños' is more common.
I heard someone say 'mijo'. What is that?
'Mijo' is a very common and friendly contraction of 'mi hijo' (my son). It's used a lot in Mexico and other parts of Latin America, especially in the same way English speakers might say 'son' or 'kiddo' affectionately.