niña
child, Mexico
A little girl is a niña in Mexican Spanish. For a teenager or young woman Mexicans often say chava in casual talk. It is also called Muchacha.
Meaning: young female person (noun)
Ways to say it
| Mexican | Note |
|---|---|
| niña | child, Mexico |
| Muchacha | neutral |
| Chava | young woman, slang |
Niña covers children and can also be a tender way to call a daughter. Chava is slang for a young person and the masculine is chavo.
Which one should you use?
Muchacha is neutral but also an older word for a household worker in Mexico, so many people prefer chica or joven.
Is it said differently in some regions?
Chava and chavo are widely used in central Mexico and are understood in most of the country.
Did you know?
- The pair chavo and chava are very Mexican, and they have spread into slang in other Latin American countries.
Examples in context
- La niña juega en el parque.The girl is playing in the park.
- Esa chava es mi vecina.That girl is my neighbor.
- Mi niña ya va a la escuela.My little girl goes to school now.
Example conversation
Two friends, Julio and Beto, watch a school event in Morelia.
- Julio¿Quién es esa niña de la coleta?Who is that girl with the ponytail?
- BetoEs la hija de mi vecina.She is my neighbor's daughter.
- JulioY esa chava de al lado, ¿su hermana?And the girl next to her, her sister?
