patoja
Guatemala, informal
A girl in Guatemala is a niña in neutral Spanish. In casual Guatemalan speech people also say patoja, and a boy is a patojo. It is also called muchacha.
Meaning: young female (noun)
Ways to say it
| Spanish | Note |
|---|---|
| patoja | Guatemala, informal |
| niña | child, neutral |
| muchacha | teenager or young woman |
Niña is for a child, and muchacha fits a teenager or a young woman. Patoja is friendly and informal and belongs to Guatemalan speech.
Which one should you use?
Outside Guatemala patoja may not be understood, so use niña with people from other countries.
Did you know?
- Patojo and patoja are typical Guatemalan words for a kid, and Guatemalans often use them for their own children.
Examples in context
- La niña juega en el parque.The girl plays in the park.
- Esa patoja canta muy bien.That girl sings very well.
- La muchacha trabaja en la tienda.The young woman works in the shop.
Example conversation
Two friends, Elena and Gabriel, watch a school performance in Guatemala City.
- ElenaMirá a esa patoja cantando.Look at that girl singing.
- GabrielEs mi sobrina, Ana.She is my niece, Ana.
- ElenaCanta increíble.She sings wonderfully.
