niña
/ˈniɲa/
The English phrase "baby girl" is translated into Spanish as niña.
niña is used to refer to a very young female human child. In more affectionate or informal contexts, speakers may use nena or chiquita (meaning "little one").
Which one should you use?
While niña is the standard way to identify a female child, you can use the masculine form niño to refer to a baby boy.
Is it said differently in some regions?
The term nenita can be heard as an alternative to nena in various regions.
How does it change in a sentence?
To refer to multiple baby girls, add the suffix -as to the end of the word to form niñas.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈniɲa/
When do people say it?
When speaking affectionately to or about a baby girl, people often use terms like nena or chiquita to show endearment.
Did you know?
- In certain Caribbean-influenced Spanish, calling someone niña can actually be a way of being slightly patronizing or dismissive, implying they are acting childishly.
- The word nena is often used as a generic term of affection for a romantic partner, similar to how an English speaker might use 'baby' or 'babe'.
- In many Spanish-speaking countries, a woman might be called niña by her elders or even her partner as a term of endearment, regardless of her actual age.
Examples in context
- La mujer dio a luz a una niña.The woman gave birth to a baby girl.This sentence shows how to use niña when discussing a birth.Tatoeba #2254348 by hayastan, translation #2254347 by _undertoad
- La mujer de Tom dio a luz a una niña ayer.Tom's wife had a baby girl yesterday.This sentence demonstrates the use of niña in a sentence about a birth that occurred yesterday.Tatoeba #2968322 by marcelostockle, translation #2958780 by CK
- La semana pasada ella dio a luz a una hermosa niña.Last week she gave birth to a beautiful baby girl.This sentence illustrates how to describe a beautiful niña.Tatoeba #530507 by Shishir, translation #707121 by papabear
- La bebé es una niña hermosaThe baby is a beautiful girl.
- Mi nena es tan lindaMy baby girl is so cute.
- ¡Hola, chiquita! ¿Cómo estás?Hello, little one! How are you?
- La bebé es adorable. Es una niñita muy tranquila.The baby is adorable. She is a very calm little girl.
- 1 more sentence on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Javier and Lucía are visiting a friend's house to see a newborn.
- JavierEs una niña muy linda.She is a very cute baby girl.
- LucíaSí, la niña es preciosa.Yes, the baby girl is beautiful.
- Javier¿Cómo se llama la niña?What is the baby girl's name?
- LucíaSu nombre es Elena.Her name is Elena.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry niña, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
