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"Baby" is a noun which is often translated as "el/la bebé", and "infant" is a noun which is also often translated as "el/la bebé". Learn more about the difference between "baby" and "infant" below.
baby(
bey
-
bi
)A noun is a word referring to a person, animal, place, thing, feeling, or idea (e.g., man, dog, house).
1. (infant)
a. el bebé (M), la bebé (F)
(m) means that a noun is masculine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
(f) means that a noun is feminine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
The baby slept soundly through the night.El bebé durmió profundamente toda la noche.
b. el bebe (M), la beba (F) (Honduras) (Peru) (River Plate)
(m) means that a noun is masculine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
(f) means that a noun is feminine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
Regionalism used in Honduras
Regionalism used in Peru
The babies happily listened to the lullaby.Los bebes escucharon felizmente la canción de cuna.
c. el nene (M), la nena (F) (Caribbean) (South America) (Spain)
(m) means that a noun is masculine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
(f) means that a noun is feminine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
Regionalism used in the Caribbean: Cuba, the Dominican Republic, and Puerto Rico
Regionalism used in South America: Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay, and Venezuela
Regionalism used in Spain
How's your baby? Is she walking yet?¿Cómo está tu nena? ¿Ya camina?
d. el guagua (M), la guagua (F) (Andes)
(m) means that a noun is masculine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
(f) means that a noun is feminine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
We saw a ton of babies at the park.Vimos un montón de guaguas en el parque.
2. (animal)
3. (colloquial) (term of endearment) (United States)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
Regionalism used in the United States
c. nene (colloquial) (masculine) (Caribbean) (South America) (Spain)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
Regionalism used in the Caribbean: Cuba, the Dominican Republic, and Puerto Rico
Regionalism used in South America: Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay, and Venezuela
Regionalism used in Spain
Baby, you look so handsome in that suit.Nene, te ves guapísimo en ese traje.
d. nena (colloquial) (feminine) (Caribbean) (South America) (Spain)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
Regionalism used in the Caribbean: Cuba, the Dominican Republic, and Puerto Rico
Regionalism used in South America: Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay, and Venezuela
Regionalism used in Spain
Are you okay, baby? You look sad.¿Nena, estás bien? Te ves triste.
e. bebe (colloquial) (Latin America)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
Regionalism used in Latin America: all the countries in South America, Central America, and the Caribbean. Does not include Spain.
Don't get mad, baby. You asked for my opinion, and I gave it to you.No te enfades, bebe. Me pediste mi opinión, y yo te la di.
a. el chico (M), la chica (F)
(m) means that a noun is masculine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
(f) means that a noun is feminine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
Here comes my baby.Aquí viene mi chico.
a. el niño (M), la niña (F)
(m) means that a noun is masculine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
(f) means that a noun is feminine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
Don't be such a baby! It doesn't hurt that much.¡No seas niño! No duele tanto.
An adjective is a word that describes a noun (e.g., the big dog).
7. (for a baby)
a. no direct translation
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.
My favorite part of the safari was seeing the baby elephants bathing with their mothers.Mi parte favorita del safari fue ver las crías de elefante bañándose con sus madres.
We saw some baby rabbits at the farm.Vimos unos conejitos en la granja.
A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g., I bought a book.).
9. (to pamper)
infant(
ihn
-
fihnt
)A noun is a word referring to a person, animal, place, thing, feeling, or idea (e.g., man, dog, house).
a. el bebé (M), la bebé (F)
(m) means that a noun is masculine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
(f) means that a noun is feminine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
A mother and her new-born infant were rescued from the fire.Se rescató a una madre con su bebé recién nacido del incendio.
b. el niño (M), la niña (F)
(m) means that a noun is masculine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
(f) means that a noun is feminine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
I helped a lady who was carrying a baby and had three infants in tow.Ayudé a una señora que llevaba a un bebé en brazos y tres niños a la zaga.
2. (legal)
a. el menor de edad (M), la menor de edad (F)
(m) means that a noun is masculine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
(f) means that a noun is feminine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
An infant may be made a ward of court for its own protection.Se puede poner a un menor de edad bajo la tutela del tribunal por su propia protección.
