Tu eres mi hijo predilecto / favorito

Question

Tu eres mi hijo predilecto / favorito

are they both correct or is only "mi hijo predilecto" correct?

Or is there some difference? (possibly religious reason?)

Gracias.

Answer 1

The phrase "hijo predilecto" has its own entry in the drae, while "hijo favorito" doesn't, which may explain the google results:

Distinción que una corporación territorial concede a alguien nacido en su ámbito.

As for predilection in English, if someone told me he had a predilection for his daughter, I would think he was a pervert.

:) - Jeremias, Nov 30, 2011

Answer 2

In this context, I think "predilecto" is identical to "favorito".

Since predilecto comes from the same word as predilección, you could say something like

I have a predilection for cameras, but my favorite is the Nikon
Tengo una predilección por cameras, pero mi favorita es la Nikon

Answer 3

A little coincidence, I'm watching "Nueve reinas" again and Marcos, el estafador, is talking to some random woman, saying, "¿No me conoces? Habla Fabian, tu sobrino favorito." The movie must be older than Google.

Answer 4

What's wrong with hijo favorito? Favorito, predilecto, preferido...

You got me. - jeezzle, Nov 29, 2011

Hard to express that saying not in person. You got ME... (like, yo que se) - jeezzle, Nov 29, 2011

Did someone say it was wrong? - Jeremias, Nov 29, 2011

No, but google says there are 5 times more hits for hijo predilecto then favorito, and I've seen a couple of movies lately where predilecto was used. - jeezzle, Nov 29, 2011

Don't believe everything googles says... ;) - chileno, Nov 29, 2011

Ha I don't, but she is a good friend most of the time, one of the few I have. :( - jeezzle, Nov 29, 2011