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"El niño" is a form of "niño", a noun which is often translated as "child". "El chico" is a form of "chico", an adjective which is often translated as "small". Learn more about the difference between "el niño" and "el chico" below.
el niño, la niña, niño(
nee
-
nyoh
)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).
1. (youngster)
a. child
Un niño necesita dormir más horas que un adulto.A child needs to sleep more hours than an adult.
b. kid (colloquial)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
Las novelas de Harry Potter son para niños, pero a los mayores también les gustan.Harry Potter novels are for kids, but grown-ups also love them.
d. girl (feminine)
Mi sobrina es una niña muy inteligente que saca muy buenas notas en la escuela.My niece is a very intelligent girl who does very well in school.
2. (offspring)
b. son (masculine)
Después del colegio, tengo que llevar al niño de mi hermano a una fiesta de cumpleaños.After school, I have to take my brother's son to a birthday party.
c. daughter (feminine)
Mi niña está entusiasmada por su primera fiesta de pijamas con sus amigas.My daughter is excited about her first slumber party with her friends.
3. (youth)
a. young boy (masculine)
Le di una propina al niño que me ayudó a llevar la compra a casa.I gave a tip to the young boy who helped me carry my groceries home.
b. young girl (feminine)
No puedes casarte con él; todavía eres una niña.You can't marry him; you are still a young girl.
4. (old-fashioned) (form of address) (Latin America)
A word or phrase that is seldom used in contemporary language and is recognized as being from another decade, (e.g., cat, groovy).
Regionalism used in Latin America: all the countries in South America, Central America, and the Caribbean. Does not include Spain.
a. master (old-fashioned) (masculine)
A word or phrase that is seldom used in contemporary language and is recognized as being from another decade, (e.g., cat, groovy).
El sirviente preparó el equipaje con la ropa de invierno del niño Peter.The servant packed the luggage with Master Peter's winter clothing.
b. lady (old-fashioned) (feminine)
A word or phrase that is seldom used in contemporary language and is recognized as being from another decade, (e.g., cat, groovy).
La niña Margarita tocó la campana y apareció el mayordomo con el té.Lady Margarita rang the bell, and the butler appeared with the tea.
An adjective is a word that describes a noun (e.g., the big dog).
5. (not aged)
6. (immature)
a. childish
¡No seas niña! ¿Qué haces mirando los Pequeños Ponies?Don't be childish! How can you be watching My Little Ponies?
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!
