¡Ese es mi chico!
The English phrase 'atta boy' can be translated into Spanish as ¡Ese es mi chico!
The phrase ¡Ese es mi chico! is used to express pride or praise toward a male child or man who has done something well.
What does it mean word for word?
Literally, ¡Ese es mi chico! means 'That is my boy!'
Which one should you use?
While ¡Ese es mi chico! expresses pride in a person, other informal alternatives include ¡Bien hecho! (Well done!), ¡Bravo! (used to show enthusiasm or admiration), ¡Eres un crack! (You're a star!) and ¡Buen trabajo! (Good job!).
Did you know?
- The word chico may be a loanword from the Yucatec Maya word chiʼik.
- While ¡Ese es mi chico! is used for praise, the word chico can also be used in various Spanish-speaking countries to mean 'boyfriend'.
- The word crack in the alternative phrase ¡Eres un crack! is actually used to describe a person who is a genius or an expert.
Examples in context
- ¡Bien hecho! Sabía que lo lograrías.Well done! I knew you would achieve it.
- ¡Ese es mi chico! Estoy muy orgulloso de ti.That's my boy! I am very proud of you.
Example conversation
Elena praises Mateo for finishing his homework quickly.
- MateoYa terminé toda mi tarea, Elena.I already finished all my homework, Elena.
- Elena¡Ese es mi chico! Estoy orgullosa de ti.Atta boy! I am proud of you.
- MateoGracias, ¿podemos ir al parque ahora?Thanks, can we go to the park now?
- ElenaSí, Mateo, vamos ahora mismo.Yes, Mateo, let's go right now.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries chico, es, ese, mi, CC BY-SA 4.0.
