General
híjole
What does híjole mean?
An exclamation of surprise, dismay, or concern, like 'jeez' or 'oh boy'.
"Híjole, el súper estaba llenísimo hoy."
Origin
Euphemistic contraction of 'hijo (de...)' softened with the '-le' ending.
Frequently asked questions
What does híjole mean?
It's a mild exclamation of surprise, dismay, or concern, similar to 'jeez', 'gosh', or 'oh boy' in English.
Is híjole a bad word?
No — it's actually a euphemism. It softens the start of 'hijo de...' so you can express dismay without swearing.
When do you say híjole?
You say it when something goes wrong or catches you off guard, like realizing you forgot something or hearing bad news.
Where does híjole come from?
It's a euphemistic contraction of 'hijo (de...)' finished with the Mexican '-le' ending.
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