Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| niño | /ˈniɲo/ | masculine |
| hijo | /ˈixo/ | masculine |
| hija | /ˈixa/ | feminine |
| niña | /ˈniɲa/ | feminine |
The term used for child in Spanish depends entirely on whether you are describing a person's age or their relationship to a parent. Use niño or niña to describe a person who is a child based on their age. Use hijo or hija specifically when referring to a person's biological or legal offspring.
Which one should you use?
There is a distinction between describing a person's developmental stage and their familial status. Use niño or niña to denote a child by age, whereas hijo or hija is used to describe the relationship to a parent (son or daughter).
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Mexico, the slang terms chavo and chava are used to refer to a child or a young person.
How does it change in a sentence?
When referring to a group of children, the masculine plural forms are used to include both sexes: niños for a group of boys and girls and hijos for a group of sons and daughters.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈniɲo/
What mistakes should you avoid?
Avoid using hijo to mean any young child. While English speakers may use the word 'child' generally, hijo specifically implies a parent-child relationship.
Did you know?
- In some Spanish-speaking cultures, calling someone mi niño or mi niña can be used romantically between adults, similar to 'baby' in English.
- The word niño may not have a formal root but instead mimics the babbling sounds of an infant, similar to how English uses 'nanny' or 'nana'.
- While hijo strictly means offspring, parents often use the term as a pet name or expression of affection for people who are not their biological children.
Examples in context
- No es una niña.She's not a child.This sentence is useful for practicing the feminine form niña.Tatoeba #2036361 by Shishir, translation #1191962 by Anon
- No soy un niño.I'm not a child.This sentence is useful for practicing the masculine form niño.Tatoeba #2351492 by Shishir, translation #1839533 by CK
- Es sólo un niño.He is but a child.Tatoeba #633246 by clerval, translation #33043 by CM
- La niña que vive al lado es muy amable.The girl next door is very friendly.
- Los chicos juegan en el parque.The children play in the park.
- El pequeño está durmiendo.The little one is sleeping.
- Los muchachos están jugando fútbol.The boys are playing soccer.
- 565 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Daniel and Elena are looking at a photo of Daniel's nephew.
- DanielMira, este es mi sobrino.Look, this is my nephew.
- Elena¡Qué lindo! Es un niño muy alegre.How cute! He is a very happy child.
- DanielSí, siempre está sonriendo.Yes, he is always smiling.
- ElenaTodo niño debería ser así.Every child should be like that.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “child” translations and entries niño, hijo, hija, niña, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries hija, hijo, niño, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
