Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| bebé | /beˈbe/ | masculine |
| nene | /ˈnene/ | masculine |
| bebe | /ˈbebe/ | Argentina, masculine |
| guagua | /ˈɡwaɡwa/ | Bolivia, Chile, feminine, masculine |
| bebo | /ˈbebo/ | masculine |
The term is used to refer to a very young human being. While bebé is the standard term, other words like nene or nena are often used affectionately to refer to a baby or a small child.
Which one should you use?
The word bebé (baby) is distinct from the form bebe (he/she drinks) because of the accent on the final syllable. Other forms like nene are used as colloquial alternatives, and guagua is a specific regional term.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
bebé is the standard noun. nene is a colloquial and affectionate way to refer to a baby or a small child. You may also use the informal terms chiquito or chiquita to refer to babies or young children. To convey endearment, you can use the diminutive forms bebito or bebita.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Bolivia and Chile, the term guagua is used for a baby. In the Caribbean, specifically in Cuba and Puerto Rico, the words chamaquito or chamaquita are used to denote a baby or a young child.
How does it change in a sentence?
The noun bebé requires a definite or indefinite article, such as el or un. The term guagua can be used as either a masculine or feminine noun.
How do you pronounce it?
/beˈbe/
Did you know?
- If you use the word guagua in Chile or Bolivia, you are referring to a baby, but in other regions, it might refer to a public bus.
- The standard Spanish word bebé was actually borrowed from the French word bébé.
- In many parts of the Andes, such as Bolivia, a baby is called a guagua, which comes from the indigenous Quechua word wawa.
Examples in context
- Ese bebé es Tom.That baby is Tom.This sentence is useful for identifying a specific baby.Tatoeba #1258396 by marcelostockle, translation #465073 by CK
- El bebé me sonrió.The baby smiled at me.This sentence is useful for describing an action performed by the baby.Tatoeba #1242568 by Shishir, translation #272361 by CK
- El bebé se durmió.The baby fell asleep.This sentence is useful for describing the baby falling asleep.Tatoeba #1569325 by hayastan, translation #45853 by CK
- Mi jefe acaba de tener un bebé.My boss just had a baby.
- 320 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Sofía and Alejandro are looking at a photo of a newborn.
- Alejandro¿Es este tu bebé?Is this your baby?
- SofíaSí, es un bebé muy lindo.Yes, it is a very cute baby.
- AlejandroEl bebé tiene ojos grandes.The baby has big eyes.
- SofíaSí, es un bebé muy especial.Yes, he is a very special baby.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “baby” translations and entries bebé, nene, bebe, guagua, bebo, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries bebe, bebé, guagua, nene, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
