¡Híjole! – The Swiss Army Knife of Mexican Emotion
¡HÍJOLE! is one of the greatest of all Mexican Spanish expressions. But what does it really mean? Is it a word, a spell, or a mild seizure?
IF YOU’VE spent more than ten minutes in Mexico or talking to a Mexican tía, chances are you’ve heard the word ¡Híjole! fly out of someone’s mouth like a linguistic piñata. But what does it mean? Is it a word, a spell, or a mild seizure?
Yes. And no. Welcome to the magical world of ¡Híjole!, where one word can mean fear, surprise, admiration, embarrassment, or the universal sound of someone realizing they left the frijoles on the stove.
Let’s dive into the many deliciously dramatic uses of ¡Híjole!, served with a side of context and sarcasm.
1. ¡Híjole! = Whoa! / Holy burrito!
This is probably the most universal use. You drop your phone? Híjole. Earthquake? Híjole. Your suegra walks in unannounced? Double híjole with a side of hiding-in-the-closet.
⚽ ¡Híjole! ¡Se me cayó el celular al excusado!
🏈 Whoa! I dropped my phone in the toilet!
⚽ ¡Híjole! ¡Ese cuate maneja como loco!
🏈 Holy burrito! That dude drives like a maniac!
2. ¡Híjole! = Oops… / Yikes
This is the sound of realizing you’ve messed up, but you’re not quite ready to admit it.
⚽ ¡Híjole! Se me olvidó que hoy era el aniversario…
🏈 Oops… I forgot today was the anniversary…
⚽ ¡Híjole! Creo que eso no se debía decir en voz alta.
🏈 Yikes. I don’t think I was supposed to say that out loud.
(Perfect for office gossip or telling your friend’s kid that Santa isn’t real.)
3. ¡Híjole! = Oh wow! / Dang! (in admiration)
Used when something is impressive, overwhelming, or when your neighbor’s kid just got accepted into Harvard and you’re still figuring out how to microwave popcorn.
⚽ ¡Híjole! ¡Qué voz tan increíble tiene esa chava!
🏈 Wow! That girl has such an amazing voice!
⚽ ¡Híjole! ¡Sí te rifaste con la fiesta!
🏈 Dang! You really outdid yourself with the party!
4. ¡Híjole! = You’re in trouble / Now you’ve done it
This is the prelude to disaster. The calm before the chancla. The sound of doom in a single breath.
⚽ ¡Híjole! Ya llegó tu mamá y vio el desorden…
🏈 Uh-oh! Your mom’s here and she saw the mess…
⚽ ¡Híjole! Vas a ver cuando se entere tu papá.
🏈 You’re in trouble when your dad finds out.
5. ¡Híjole! = That’s awkward…
Perfect for those moments when you witness something so uncomfortable that you briefly consider pretending you’re not from this planet.
⚽ ¡Híjole! Le pidió matrimonio y ella le dijo que sólo lo ve como amigo…
🏈 Yikes! He proposed and she said she only sees him as a friend…
⚽ ¡Híjole! Ese silencio en la junta después del chiste del jefe…
🏈 Awkward! That silence in the meeting after the boss’s joke…
6. ¡Híjole! = General emotional venting
Sometimes you don’t need a reason. You just need to let the híjole out. It’s like a sneeze for your feelings. Too hot? Híjole. Long line at the bank? Híjole. Stepped on a Lego? **¡Híjole y mil veces híjole! **
⚽ ¡Híjole! ¡Qué calor hace!
🏈 Ugh! It’s so hot!
⚽ ¡Híjole! Esta fila no avanza.
🏈 Ugh! This line isn’t moving.
⚽ ¡Híjole! Me duele hasta el alma.
🏈 Ouch! Even my soul hurts.
Bonus Round: Regional Remix
Some Mexicans will stretch out the word for dramatic effect:
¡Híííííjoleeee! (said while watching someone fall off a bike in slow motion)
¡Híjole, mano! (classic chilango flavor)
¡Ay, híjole! (extra seasoning of exasperation)
Conclusion: ¡Híjole!, the Everything Word
From joyous amazement to profound regret, ¡Híjole! is the duct tape of Mexican exclamations—it holds the whole emotional house together. It’s the Swiss Army knife you didn’t know you needed but now can’t live without.
So the next time something crazy, funny, tragic, or wonderfully awkward happens… give yourself permission to let out a deep, heartfelt…
¡HÍJOLE!
Just don’t be surprised if three people nearby respond with, ¿Qué pasó?
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