niña grande
/niɲa ɡɾande/from spelling rules
The English phrase "big girl" is translated into Spanish as niña grande.
The phrase niña grande is used to describe a girl who is older or larger than other children.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of niña (girl) and grande (big/large).
Which one should you use?
While niña grande can refer to physical size, if you specifically mean a girl who is older in age, it is more precise to use niña mayor.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Latin America, the colloquial term muchachota is often used.
How does it change in a sentence?
To make the phrase plural, both the noun and the adjective must take the plural suffix -s, resulting in niñas grandes.
How do you pronounce it?
/niɲa ɡɾande/
Did you know?
- While grande means 'big', placing it before the noun in certain poetic or literary contexts can change the meaning from physical size to 'noble' or 'great' in character.
- The term muchachota uses the augmentative suffix -ota, which can describe a girl who is physically large or simply someone with a very bold and spirited personality.
- In many Spanish-speaking cultures, a parent might call their daughter niña grande to praise her for acting mature or being responsible, even if she is still quite small.
Examples in context
- Ella ya es una niña grande.She is already a big girl.
- Mi prima es una niña grande.My cousin is a big girl.
- Esa niña grande ayuda en casa.That big girl helps at home.
Example conversation
Lucía is showing Mateo her little sister's new clothes.
- LucíaMira el vestido de mi hermana.Look at my sister's dress.
- MateoElla parece una niña grande con eso.She looks like a big girl in that.
- LucíaSí, ya está creciendo mucho.Yes, she is growing a lot already.
- MateoEs verdad, ya no es un bebé.It is true, she is not a baby anymore.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
