Which one should you use?
In Spanish, the masculine plural form niños serves as a grammatically gender-neutral term to refer to a mixed group of boys and girls. If you are referring specifically to a group consisting only of female children, you should use niñas.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
For a more formal or technical tone, especially when referring to very young children, you can use infantes. In legal or administrative contexts regarding individuals who are underage, the term menores is used. For informal situations, you might use chicos to refer to kids or young people or the written informal gender-neutral term niñ@s in social media.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In certain areas of Spain, the term peques is used for kids. In Mexico, the term chavos is used to refer to kids or teenagers.
How do you pronounce it?
/niɲos/
Did you know?
- In many Latin American countries, calling someone mi niño or mi niña is a common term of endearment used by adults for romantic partners or close friends, regardless of age.
- The informal term chavos, common in Mexico, evolved from the word for a 'small coin' or 'token', originally referring to someone with very little money.
- In some Spanish-speaking cultures, the term niño can be used to describe a man who is still dependent on his parents, even if he is well into adulthood.
Examples in context
- Los niños son así.Kids will be kids.This sentence uses niños to describe a common characteristic of children.Tatoeba #4554739 by swyter, translation #3439744 by CK
- Levanta a los niños.Wake the kids.This sentence uses niños to describe the action of waking them up.Tatoeba #9462533 by dpcossio, translation #2253864 by CK
- Más niños, más manos.More kids, more hands.This sentence uses niños to express that more children mean more help available.Tatoeba #661370 by Shishir, translation #667136 by Zifre
- Los niños son el futuro de nuestra sociedad.Kids are the future of our society.
- Se prohíbe el ingreso de menores de edad.Entry of underage individuals is prohibited.
- Los chicos están jugando en el parque.The kids are playing in the park.
- Los chavos están organizando un evento en la escuela.The kids are organizing an event at school.
- 188 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Daniel and Elena are at a park watching people.
- DanielMira a esos niños jugando.Look at those kids playing.
- ElenaSí, los niños tienen mucha energía.Yes, the kids have a lot of energy.
- Daniel¿Quieres ir con ellos?Do you want to go with them?
- ElenaNo, prefiero sentarme aquí.No, I prefer to sit here.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
