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"Chica" is a form of "chica", a noun which is often translated as "girl". "Joven" is an adjective which is often translated as "young". Learn more about the difference between "joven" and "chica" below.
joven, el joven, la joven(
hoh
-
behn
)An adjective is a word that describes a noun (e.g., the big dog).
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).
3. (person)
a. young person
Debe de ser difícil ser un joven hoy en día.It must be hard to be a young person these days.
b. kid (colloquial)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
Este candidato no tiene experiencia, pero sí mucho entusiasmo, y parece un joven muy agradable.This applicant has no experience, but he's very enthusiastic, and he seems like a nice enough kid.
d. young woman (feminine)
La joven que está en la parada de autobús es mi prima.The young woman at the bus stop is my cousin.
e. youth
Cada joven que contratamos representa una inversión de futuro.Every youth we hire represents an investment in our future.
los jóvenes, las jóvenes
A plural noun indicates that there is more than one person, place, thing, or idea.
a. young people
En estas tribus, los jóvenes toman ejemplo de sus mayores.In these tribes, young people look up to their elders.
b. kids (colloquial)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
Aunque tocaba una banda de los ochenta, en el público había muchos jóvenes.Although a band from the eighties was playing, there were many kids in the audience.
d. youths
Dos adultos y dos jóvenes han sido detenidos en relación con la agresión.Two adults and two youths have been arrested in connection with the assault.
e. youngsters
Unos jóvenes platicaban y reían en un banco del parque.Some youngsters were chatting and laughing on a bench in the park.
la chica(
chee
-
kah
)A feminine noun is almost always used with feminine articles and adjectives (e.g., la mujer bonita, la luna llena).
b. chick (colloquial)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
La chica rubia de la barra tiene un doctorado en Astrofísica.The blond chick at the bar has a Ph.D. in Astrophysics.
2. (old-fashioned) (cleaning lady)
A word or phrase that is seldom used in contemporary language and is recognized as being from another decade, (e.g., cat, groovy).
3. (colloquial) (form of address)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
a. no direct translation
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.
Pues, chica, no sé cómo voy a resolver el problema.Well, I don't know how I'm going to solve the problem.
¡Chica! ¿Qué dices?Wow! Are you serious?
