niño
standard, Colombia
In Colombia "boy" is niño in standard speech. Colombians also say pelado or pelao in casual talk, and chino in Bogotá and the interior.
Meaning: young male (noun)
Ways to say it
| Spanish | Note |
|---|---|
| niño | standard, Colombia |
| pelado | slang, Colombia |
| chino | slang, Bogotá |
A mother might say ese pelado es muy juicioso for "that boy is very well behaved". Muchacho is used for an older boy or a teenager.
Which one should you use?
Niño is neutral and polite. Pelado and chino are everyday words and sound natural to locals but informal to learners.
Is it said differently in some regions?
Chino for a child is typical of Bogotá and has no connection to China. On the coast and in Antioquia pelado is more usual.
Did you know?
- In Colombia pelado is used for young people of any region and does not mean bald.
Examples in context
- Ese niño juega fútbol muy bien.That boy plays football very well.
- El pelado se quedó dormido.The boy fell asleep.
- Los chinos están en el colegio.The kids are at school.
Example conversation
Two neighbors, Clara and Ofelia, chat outside their house in Bogotá.
- Clara¿Cómo va su pelado en el colegio?How is your boy doing at school?
- OfeliaMuy bien, es muy juicioso.Very well, he is very well behaved.
- ClaraEl mío no estudia nada.Mine does not study at all.
- OfeliaEs normal, son chinos todavía.That is normal, they are still kids.
