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"Chico" is a form of "chico", an adjective which is often translated as "small". "Novio" is a form of "novio", a noun which is often translated as "boyfriend". Learn more about the difference between "chico" and "novio" below.
chico, el chico, la chica(
chee
-
koh
)This means that the noun can be masculine or feminine, depending on the gender of the noun it refers to (e.g., el doctor, la doctora).
a. kid (colloquial)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
¡Qué chico más cómico!What a funny kid!
b. boy (masculine)
A word or phrase that is masculine (e.g., el libro).
Es un chico muy perseverante.He's a very determined boy.
c. girl (feminine)
A word or phrase that is feminine (e.g., la manzana).
Es una chica muy inteligente.She's a very intelligent girl.
d. guy (masculine)
A word or phrase that is masculine (e.g., el libro).
¿Ese es el chico que te gusta? - Sí. Se llama Daniel.Is that the guy you like? - Yes. His name is Daniel.
b. girlfriend (feminine)
¿Sabías que Óscar tiene una chica nueva?Did you know Oscar has a new girlfriend?
A masculine noun is used with masculine articles and adjectives (e.g., el hombre guapo, el sol amarillo).
5. (colloquial) (form of address)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
a. man (colloquial)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
Chico, no tienes idea.Man, you have no idea.
b. dude (colloquial) (United States)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
Regionalism used in the United States
¡Ya vámonos de aquí, chico!Let's get out of here, dude!
el novio, la novia(
noh
-
byoh
)This means that the noun can be masculine or feminine, depending on the gender of the noun it refers to (e.g., el doctor, la doctora).
a. boyfriend (masculine)
Su novio viene a verla todos los días.Her boyfriend comes to visit her every day.
b. girlfriend (feminine)
Enrique invitó su novia a cenar en un restaurante elegante.Enrique treated his girlfriend to dinner in a chic restaurant.
a. groom (masculine)
El novio llegó a la iglesia en limusina.The groom arrived at the church in a limousine.
b. bridegroom (masculine)
La madre del novio lo acompañó hasta la entrada de la iglesia.The bridegroom's mother accompanied him to the church entrance.
b. fiancée (feminine)
Samuel y su novia se van a casar en junio.Samuel and his fiancée are going to get married in June.
los novios
A plural noun indicates that there is more than one person, place, thing, or idea.
a. bride and groom
Los novios bailaron mientras los invitados miraban.The bride and groom danced as the guests looked on.
b. no direct translation
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.
¿Desde cuándo son novios?How long have they been dating?
Fueron amigos durante años y después se hicieron novios.They were friends for years and then they started going out.
