Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| novia | /ˈnobja/ | feminine |
| polola | /poˈlola/ | feminine |
| jerma | /xeɾma/ (from spelling rules) | Peru, feminine |
| flaca | /ˈflaka/ | feminine |
| jeva | /ˈxeba/ | Latin America, feminine |
| geba | /xeba/ (from spelling rules) | Puerto Rico, feminine |
The term novia is used to refer to a female partner in a romantic relationship. Depending on the context, it can mean either 'girlfriend' or 'fiancée'.
Which one should you use?
While novia is the standard term, it can transition from meaning 'girlfriend' to 'fiancée' based on the specific situation.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
In Colombia, if you want to refer to a partner more formally, you might use pareja. In many parts of Latin America, jeva is used as a slang term for a girlfriend or a girl.
Is it said differently in some regions?
Regional variations include polola, which is the common term for girlfriend in Chile and jerma, which is used in Peru. In Puerto Rico, the term geba is used. Across various parts of Latin America, jeva is also used as slang.
How does it change in a sentence?
The masculine form of novia is novio, which means 'boyfriend'.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈnobja/
Did you know?
- The slang term flaca, meaning 'skinny girl', is used as a term of endearment for a girlfriend in Argentina and Uruguay regardless of the woman's actual weight.
- The word novia shares its roots with the English word 'new', as both derive from the Latin concept of something being 'new' or 'recent'.
- In some Caribbean cultures, jeva can be used to describe any attractive woman, not just a romantic partner.
Examples in context
- No soy tu novia.I'm not your girlfriend.This sentence is useful for clarifying one's relationship status using novia.Tatoeba #1937267 by marcelostockle, translation #1935173 by Spamster
- No sos mi novia.You're not my girlfriend.This sentence is useful for denying a relationship status using novia.Tatoeba #5051082 by don_ramon, translation #2545042 by CK
- Ella es mi novia.She is my girlfriend.This sentence is useful for introducing a partner using novia.Tatoeba #451714 by Shishir, translation #312168 by CK
- Mi novia es una persona maravillosaMy girlfriend is a wonderful person
- Voy a salir con mi chicaI'm going out with my girlfriend
- Hoy salgo con mi chica a pasear.Today I'm going out with my girlfriend for a stroll.
- 300 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Lucía introduces her partner to Daniel.
- LucíaDaniel, ella es mi novia.Daniel, she is my girlfriend.
- DanielMucho gusto, es un placer conocerte.Nice to meet you, it is a pleasure to meet you.
- LucíaMi novia es arquitecta en la ciudad.My girlfriend is an architect in the city.
- Daniel¡Qué interesante! Me gustaría saber más.How interesting! I would like to know more.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “girlfriend” translations and entries novia, polola, flaca, jeva, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries novia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
