Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| niña | /ˈniɲa/ | feminine |
| chica | /ˈt͡ʃika/ | feminine |
| chiquita | /t͡ʃiˈkita/ | feminine |
| chiquitina | /t͡ʃikiˈtina/ | feminine |
| nena | /ˈnena/ | feminine |
These terms are used to refer to a female child. While niña is the standard way to say girl, other forms like chiquita or nena can add nuances of affection, smallness or specific age groups.
Which one should you use?
niña refers to a female child but does not inherently mean "small" unless you add an adjective such as pequeña. chiquita is a diminutive form of chica used to emphasize that someone is small or to express affection. In some contexts, chiquita can also mean "little one".
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
nena is an informal and affectionate term often used for babies or very young girls.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Argentina, nena can be used as an informal alternative to niña pequeña.
How does it change in a sentence?
To indicate multiple female children, the plural form of niña is niñas, which changes the ending to denote plurality.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈniɲa/
Did you know?
- The word niña is used in the phrase la niña de mis ojos to describe someone deeply cherished, which is the direct equivalent of the English 'apple of my eye'.
- In some regions, chiquita is used as a romantic term of endearment for a partner, regardless of her size or age.
- If you are in Spain and call a stranger chica, it might come across as much more informal or even slightly impolite compared to the more neutral señorita.
Examples in context
- Layla es una niña.Layla is a little girl.This sentence uses niña to identify a person.Tatoeba #7918148 by fpp, translation #7286528 by OsoHombre
- Ann es una niña pequeña.Ann is a little girl.This sentence uses niña to describe a person's age/size.Tatoeba #509734 by Shishir, translation #66840 by CN
- Adoptaron a la niña pequeña.They adopted the little girl.Tatoeba #1332226 by Shishir, translation #291023 by CK
- ¡Hola, niña pequeña! ¿Cómo te llamas?Hello, little girl! What is your name?
- Buenos días, pequeñita. ¿Cómo estás?Good morning, little one. How are you?
- ¡Hola, nena! ¿Quieres jugar con nosotros?Hi, little girl! Do you want to play with us?
- Ven aquí, chiquita, y cuéntame cómo fue tu díaCome here, little one, and tell me how your day was
- ¡Vení, nena! Te esperamos para el téCome, little girl! We're waiting for tea
- 32 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Lucía and Mateo are watching a girl play in the park.
- LucíaEsa niña corre muy rápido.That little girl runs very fast.
- MateoSí, es una niña muy enérgica.Yes, she is a very energetic little girl.
- LucíaParece que se está divirtiendo mucho.It looks like she is having a lot of fun.
- MateoEs bueno ver a la niña jugar así.It is good to see the little girl playing like that.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “little girl” translations and entries niña, chica, chiquita, chiquitina, nena, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
