Can niña mean "daughter" in the literal sense?

Question

Does niña mean "daughter" in the literal sense? Or would it be just as in English, to say "this is my girl" as a more affectionate, casual way of saying "this is my daughter"?

Another thought: in English, "This is my little girl" is also casual and affectionate but more strongly implies the parent relationship, where "This is my girl" could mean girlfriend, wife, friend, hero, etc... depending on context.

Answer 1

First of all, in Spanish "niña" doesn't mean daughter but "child, little girl". The word for "daughter" is "hija".

According to my experience, it can indeed be used in a more affectionate way to address a loved one, a girlfriend, a very good female friend etc.

...and it can be used to refer to one's own child: "mi niño" , "mi niña". - Gekkosan, Aug 5, 2010

Answer 2

Yes I think it can be because I was talking with my spanish teacher about mosquitos and she said she was afraid that they were going to bite her daughter and I remember she told me : "Si no pongo insecticida a la casa me van a picar esta niña chiquitita..." so I think it can mean something like that..

Right, but she used the word "niña" to refer to a little girl. But the way you write it the word doesn't reveal a relationship, namely whether the girl is her daughter or not. Please correct me if I'm wrong. - maria_k, Aug 5, 2010

People commonly refer to their children as "Mi niño" or "mi niña". It has exactly the same meaning and connotation as in English: "this is my child" - Gekkosan, Aug 5, 2010

no she was absolutely refering to her daughter. - culé, Aug 5, 2010

Answer 3

You are all wrong, this is Niña- mi perrita!Just kidding, all answers seem correct.

She looks like Toto... What a cute niña. - LuisaGomezBartle, Aug 6, 2010

muchas gracias (that's from her):) - Yeser007, Aug 7, 2010

Answer 4

Está es mi pequeña. This is my little girl.