niño
/ˈniɲo/masculine
The English phrase "baby boy" is translated into Spanish as niño. Wiktionary also lists chiquito.
Meaning: very young male human being (noun)
Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| niño | /ˈniɲo/ | masculine |
| chiquito | /t͡ʃiˈkito/ | masculine |
The term niño is used to refer to a very young male human being. Depending on the context, it can mean a boy, a very young child or a baby boy.
Which one should you use?
While niño is the standard general term for a boy, chiquito can also be used to refer to a baby boy.
How does it change in a sentence?
To refer to a baby girl, change the masculine niño to the feminine niña. To make the word niño plural, add -s to get niños.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈniɲo/
Did you know?
- The word niño may have originated from the way babies babble, much like the English words 'nanny' or 'nun'. It likely stems from an imitation of infantile speech sounds rather than a formal Latin root.
- In some regions, niño can be used to describe a spoiled person, regardless of their actual age.
- If you are in parts of Spain, you might hear people use chaval to refer to a boy, which carries a more colloquial and street-smart tone than the formal niño.
Examples in context
- Ella dio a luz a un niño.She gave birth to a baby boy.This sentence is useful for showing how to use niño when discussing childbirth.Tatoeba #1017584 by Shishir, translation #308883 by CN
- ¡Hola, chiquitín! ¿Cómo estás hoy?Hello, little one! How are you today?
- Mi hermano acaba de tener un bebé varón. Es tan lindo.My brother just had a baby boy. He is so cute.
- El niño duerme en la cuna.The baby boy is sleeping in the crib.
Example conversation
María and Mateo are looking at a photo of a newborn.
- María¿Es este tu nuevo niño?Is this your new baby boy?
- MateoSí, es mi hijo.Yes, he is my son.
- MaríaEl niño tiene tus ojos, Mateo.The baby boy has your eyes, Mateo.
- MateoGracias, María.Thank you, María.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “baby boy” translations and entries niño, chiquito, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries chiquito, niño, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
