niño
/ˈniɲo/masculine
The English phrase "little boy" is translated into Spanish as niño. Wiktionary also lists chiquito and chiquitin.
Meaning: a diminutive male child (noun)
Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| niño | /ˈniɲo/ | masculine |
| chiquito | /t͡ʃiˈkito/ | masculine |
| chiquitin | /t͡ʃikitin/ (from spelling rules) | masculine |
The term is used to refer to a diminutive male child. While niño translates to boy, you can specify that the boy is small in size or age by using the phrase niño pequeño.
Which one should you use?
To specifically emphasize that a boy is small in size or age, the phrase niño pequeño is used. chiquitín is a more endearing, highly informal term used for very young children or as a pet name, often translated as "tiny tot" or "little guy".
Is it said differently in some regions?
The term nene is an endearing term for a young boy commonly used in Spain and some Latin American countries.
How does it change in a sentence?
All forms provided are masculine. To change the gender from a little boy to a little girl, change the masculine ending -o to the feminine -a, such as in niña.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈniɲo/
Did you know?
- Because niño is thought to come from the Latin *ninnus, it shares a linguistic ancestor with the English word 'nun', both potentially stemming from repetitive, infantile sounds.
- In many Spanish-speaking cultures, niño is used to refer to one's own children regardless of their age, even if they are adults.
- Spanish uses a vast system of diminutive suffixes like -ito and -ín to express a range of warmth that English typically handles with separate adjectives.
Examples in context
- El niño pequeño está en el zoo.The little boy is at the zoo.This sentence shows how to use niño to describe a boy at the zoo.Tatoeba #683126 by Shishir, translation #682523 by Source_VOA
- Era solo un niño en aquel entonces.I was just a little boy back then.This sentence uses niño to refer to oneself as a boy in the past.Tatoeba #10218232 by manufrutos, translation #10215662 by megamanenm
- El niño estaba durmiendo en la cama.The little boy was asleep in his bed.This sentence demonstrates the use of niño to describe a boy sleeping.Tatoeba #943791 by hayastan, translation #1435852 by caspian
- ¡Mira al nene con su juguete nuevo!Look at the little boy with his new toy!
- Los chamacos del barrio juegan fútbol todos los días.The little boys in the neighborhood play soccer every day.
- 18 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Alejandro and María are watching children at a local park.
- Alejandro¿Quién es ese niño?Who is that little boy?
- MaríaEs el hijo de mi vecina.He is my neighbor's son.
- AlejandroParece un niño muy travieso.He seems like a very mischievous little boy.
- MaríaSí, siempre está corriendo.Yes, he is always running.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “little boy” translations and entries niño, chiquito, 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 chiquito, niño, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
