How old are they respectively--"niño, chico, chavo, muchacho"?

Question

Today I learned a new word, chavo. It is defined as "young boy; guy" in SD dictionary and as "boy, kid" in WordReference.com. I think the range of the age it refers to is quite flexible. I have searched for the difference among the four words, but none compared them at one time. After reading some of the questions asked previously, I got some idea that people use "niño" to call "a younger boy" and "muchacho" to name "an older one". Do you agree? And what on earth the difference among the four? Or would they just differ by regions?

Answer 1

Like many similar words there are no hard and fast rules. Each person uses them differently and the same person may apply different words to the same child at different times.

I use niño/a up to about six. Then chico. chavo, muchacho, chamaco become somewhat interchangeable. For me, I think of chavo and chamaco as being a little bit more travieso than chico and muchacho. But that may just be me.

Many thanks for telling me how you use them. - joygogo, Aug 28, 2013

I only told you how I use them. You can decide how you want to use them. - gringojrf, Aug 28, 2013

You have expanded my vocabulary. Whether I will ever use the new words is another thing! - Raja-jani, Aug 28, 2013

Thanks, now I know what "trevieso' means! - Jubilado, Aug 28, 2013

Good answer. - annierats, Aug 28, 2013

Both "trevieso" and "chamaco" are new words to me, too. So, "trevieso" means "naughty; mischievous", and "chamaco" is a Mexican Spanish word for "kid". Right? - joygogo, Aug 29, 2013

Answer 2

Gringo is totally right that different people have different standards. I know that I'll call someone a "kid" while my dad will call that same person a "child". It's all relative.

Do note that sometimes these words are regional and everyone has their preferences. My Spanish teacher will only say chico, never muchacho while my Venezuelen friend says muchacho all the time.

Thanks for telling me this! - joygogo, Aug 29, 2013

Answer 3

For me, I think of chavo and chamaco as being a little bit more travieso than chico and muchacho.

I have to disagree. In Mexico City, at least, these two expressions don´t have the conotation of "travieso" but are simply a little more slangy than the others. And you should note that Chava is also a nickname for Salvador.

I will call my nieto un muchacho until he does something wrong then he is a chamaco. Just me. - gringojrf, Aug 28, 2013

What about the TV show El Chavo. He is always getting into trouble. I personally don't use chavo. But that is my perception of the word. - gringojrf, Aug 28, 2013

In the first case, I would call him "escuincle" or "travieso" if it´s innocent wrong-doing. In the second, I can´t comment. Sorry, I haven´t seen that show and I no longer live in Mexico - 005faa61, Aug 28, 2013

Yeah its innocent wrongdoing, travesuras like all kids do. And its actually "pinche chamaco" as in "Did you see wha the pinche chamaco did?" - gringojrf, Aug 28, 2013

I was told that "pinche" is quite vulgar in Mexico. - Jubilado, Aug 28, 2013

No. Not at all. It is used all the time by virtually everyone. Its like Damn in English. A mild cuss word. - gringojrf, Aug 28, 2013

Wow, I can learn some new words by viewing what you all said. "escuincle" is another Mexcian Spanish word for "kid"; "travesura" means "prank, mischief"; "pinche" can be used as a noun "kitchen boy, maid" or used as an adjective "damn, lousy, stingy". - joygogo, Aug 29, 2013

Do you mean "connotation"? - joygogo, Aug 29, 2013

Answer 4

I would only use niño about young children.

Muchacho/muchacha has a slight ring of '' working class''' to use a very oldfashioned expression: I would not say: El principe era simpático, como muchacho.

But fine to say: El mozo es un muchacho de buen corazón. (The groom is a good-natured chap. )

No, De niño, el principe era un poco gordo .

Chavo sounds downright rude to me! Certainly to be applied with caution.

That's my take, for what it's worth.

As you mentioned: Muchacho/muchacha has a slight ring of ''working class'', so how do you call the child from the royal family? As for "Chavo sounds downright rude to me!", it's good to know about it. - joygogo, Aug 29, 2013

A p[rince, there is no other correct word, I'm afraid. - annierats, Aug 29, 2013

Answer 5

I don't know.

Only post answers to questions if you have something to add that will help the OP. - rac1, Aug 28, 2013