chico/a vs.niño/a

Question

Dears,

What is the difference between chico/a and niño/a? I think both of them mean child, is that correct or there is a difference in Spanish?

Answer 1

there is really little difference between the two... but when i think of a chico, i see a boy anywhere from 10 yrs to 15yrs old... whereas a niño, would be 10yrs and under... plus try it in context... i feel that los niños describes a group of children better than los chicos... and i wouldnt imagine a grandmother calling her grandchildren los chicos... she would call them niños... hope that helps.

nino i guess is more diminutive - J850D, Jan 26, 2012

Answer 2

It depends on the context, but they both can mean boy or child. Niño is considered a younger child than chico. Chico is more a teenager and niño more of a boy ten or younger.

Answer 3

Un niño is pretty much the same as the English child. Un chico is more general, maybe equivalent to 'young person'. A child can be a chico, but young teens as well. At some point they become jovenes.