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"Muchacha" is a form of "muchacho", a noun which is often translated as "boy". "Niña" is a form of "niña", a noun which is often translated as "girl". Learn more about the difference between "muchacha" and "niña" below.
el muchacho, la muchacha(
moo
-
chah
-
choh
)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. boy (masculine)
A word or phrase that is masculine (e.g., el libro).
Había un grupo de muchachos jugando al tenis.There was a group of boys playing tennis.
b. girl (feminine)
A word or phrase that is feminine (e.g., la manzana).
Las muchachas sentadas allá son mis amigas.Those girls sitting over there are my friends.
c. kid (colloquial)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
¡Oye, muchacha! Ayúdame a mover este sofá.Hey kid! Help me move this sofa.
d. young man (masculine)
A word or phrase that is masculine (e.g., el libro).
¿Quién es ese muchacho que está en el jardín con Isabel? - Es su novio.Who's that young man who's with Isabel in the garden? - He's her boyfriend.
e. young woman (feminine)
A word or phrase that is feminine (e.g., la manzana).
Hoy en día las muchachas suelen ser más maduras que nosotras a su edad.Nowadays young women are usually more mature than we were at their age.
f. youngster
Los muchachos de hoy en día son muy distintos de cómo éramos nosotros a su edad.Today's youngsters are very different from how we were at their age.
2. (old-fashioned) (attendant)
A word or phrase that is seldom used in contemporary language and is recognized as being from another decade, (e.g., cat, groovy).
a. servant (masculine)
El muchacho le subirá las maletas a la habitación.The servant will take your suitcases up to your room.
b. maid (feminine)
Mi abuela ordenó a la muchacha que limpiara la cocina.My grandmother instructed the maid to clean the kitchen.
la niña(
nee
-
nyah
)A feminine noun is almost always used with feminine articles and adjectives (e.g., la mujer bonita, la luna llena).
a. pupil
Tenía que llevar gafas de sol con las niñas dilatadas.He had to wear sunglasses while his pupils were dilated.
