chaval
/t͡ʃaˈbal/
The English term "jit" translates to Spanish as chaval.
This is a slang term used to refer to a young person or a youth.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Spain, chaval is an informal term used to refer to a young person. In Argentina, Uruguay and some parts of Spain, the informal term pibe is used to describe a young person.
How do you pronounce it?
/tʃaˈbal/
Did you know?
- The Spanish word chaval shares a distant ancestry with the Sanskrit word for a 'baby animal'. It is a linguistic relative of the Marathi word chāvā, which means a 'cub'.
- Using chaval in Buenos Aires would immediately identify the speaker as a foreigner from Spain.
Examples in context
- Ese chaval es muy inteligente.That youth is very intelligent.
- ¿Has visto al chaval nuevo?Have you seen the new kid?
- El chaval no sabe cocinar.The young guy doesn't know how to cook.
Example conversation
Elena and Mateo are watching a group of teenagers in the park.
- Elena¿Quién es ese chaval que corre tan rápido?Who is that kid running so fast?
- MateoEs el primo de mi hermano, Mateo.He is my brother's cousin, Mateo.
- ElenaParece un chaval con mucha energía.He seems like a youth with a lot of energy.
- MateoSí, nunca deja de moverse.Yes, he never stops moving.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry chaval, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries chaval, CC BY-SA 4.0.
