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"Niño" is a noun which is often translated as "child", and "hijo" is a noun which is often translated as "son". Learn more about the difference between "niño" and "hijo" 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?
el hijo(
ee
-
hoh
)A masculine noun is used with masculine articles and adjectives (e.g., el hombre guapo, el sol amarillo).
1. (relative)
b. child (of unspecified sex)
¿Quieres saber el sexo de tu hijo antes de que nazca?Do you want to know the sex of your child before it's born?
c. kid (colloquial) (of unspecified sex)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
Si tienes solo un hijo, es importante que te asegures de que se relaciona con otros niños.If you have just one kid, it's important to make sure that they socialize with other kids.
los hijos
A plural noun indicates that there is more than one person, place, thing, or idea.
2. (relatives)
a. children (of unspecified sex)
Tengo cuatro hijos: Ana, Marta, Antonio y Miguel.I have four children: Ana, Marta, Antonio, and Miguel.
b. kids (colloquial) (of unspecified sex)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
¿Cuántos hijos tienes? - Tres, dos niños y una niña.How many kids do you have? - Three, two boys and a girl.
d. son and daughter (male and female)
Mis hijos trabajan los dos en la medicina veterinaria. Julia es veterinaria y Carlos es enfermero veterinario.My son and daughter both work in veterinary medicine. Julia is a veterinarian and Carlos is a veterinary nurse.
e. sons and daughters (males and females)
El rey tenía treinta y cinco hijos.The king had thirty-five sons and daughters.
