Chico/Chica
Does Chico/Chica have any reference to age....for example: is chico used more to desciribe a younger male rather than an adult? would it be offensive to refer to an older male as chico?
4 Answers
My point of reference is coming from conversations I have with my Mexican friends, but chico is boy, chica is girl. Niño is considered younger than chico, and usually refers to child or children (less than 10 years old) Chico is used for older than child, younger than an adult...so let's say a minor or teenager......If you are wanting to maintain respect you wouldn't call someone older than this age or older than you a chico, but rather un joven Joven is used for teenagers up to people in their 20s. (un joven / una joven) A term I hear a lot, and not sure where it comes from or how it's spelled, but I think it's from the English word for guy but pronounced J-WHO-AY as in one single dipthong (or tripthong even?) or it comes from hijuelo and shortened to hijue (I need to ask my friend next time we talk )
I am spanish:
The literal translation of chico is guy. In spanish (from spain) refers to a young male also means small ( "un perro chico" is "a small dog") mainly you can use to refer a guy since teenager till 30 years old because older becomes sir (señor) has no despective notations by itself except the contextual one (deduced by the conversation) in spanish from latin america has same references but in some countries it has a sligthly despective notation such like referring as "kid" to a not very young male.
In latin america and south of spain usage of chico meaning "small" is more often.
Do you mean güey?
YES!!! now that I see it spelled out, this is the word I was trying to find. Although , my friends don't really use it for close friends, but perhaps a known friend/collegue amongst the group....so thanks for this.
In México, I would not use chico to call a male if he is over 18 years old.
No, I woudn't dare either...which is why i considered 'refering to a minor' as a guide (a minor in EEUU is someone 17 or less, not sure else where)
A term I hear a lot, and not sure where it comes from or how it's spelled, but I think it's from the English word for guy but pronounced J-WHO-AY as in one single dipthong (or tripthong even?) or it comes from hijuelo and shortened to hijue (I need to ask my friend next time we talk )
Do you mean güey? It is a term just to be used with very close friends.
right, but is it wrong to call an older male chico....considering it means boy....like i wouldnt call my father boy....so is it the same in spanish?
In México, I would not use chico to call a male if he is over 18 years old.
