nena
Puerto Rico, casual
In Puerto Rico a girl is a niña, and in everyday talk nena is very common for a young girl or a daughter. It is also called muchacha.
Meaning: young female person (noun)
Ways to say it
| Spanish | Note |
|---|---|
| nena | Puerto Rico, casual |
| niña | standard |
| muchacha | everyday |
Niña is the standard word for a child. Muchacha is used for a young woman or teenage girl.
Is it said differently in some regions?
Puerto Ricans also call an adult woman nena as a friendly address, like "girl" in English.
Did you know?
- A Puerto Rican mother often calls her grown daughter mi nena too.
Examples in context
- La nena está jugando afuera.The girl is playing outside.
- Esa muchacha canta bien.That girl sings well.
Example conversation
Carmen tells her neighbor Rosa about her daughter Valeria.
- CarmenRosa, mi nena cumple siete años mañana.Rosa, my little girl turns seven tomorrow.
- RosaQué bueno. ¿Van a hacer fiesta?How nice. Are you having a party?
- CarmenSí, con globos y piñata.Yes, with balloons and a piñata.
