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 refers to a female partner in a romantic relationship. In many contexts, novia can mean either 'girlfriend' or 'fiancée'. To specify that a relationship is serious, you can use the phrase mi novia oficial to mean 'my official girlfriend'.
Which one should you use?
While novia is the standard term used widely, other words are used depending on the specific region or social context.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
Novia is the most common way to express this. In contrast, jeva is a slang or colloquial term used throughout various parts of Latin America.
Is it said differently in some regions?
Specific regional terms include: polola in Chile, jerma in Peru, geba in Puerto Rico and jeva in Puerto Rico. Additionally, flaca and chava are used in certain contexts, with chava being common in Mexico and some Central American countries.
How does it change in a sentence?
To say 'my girlfriend', place the possessive adjective mi before novia.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈnobja/
Did you know?
- If you call a woman flaca in many Latin American countries, you might be using a common, affectionate nickname for a girlfriend, even if she is not actually thin.
- The word novia shares the same root as the English word 'new', as both derive from the Latin concept of something being 'new' or 'recent'.
- While novia is the standard, the term novia can also mean 'bride' during a wedding ceremony, making the context of the word vital for understanding.
Examples in context
- No soy tu novia.I'm not your girlfriend.This sentence demonstrates a negative statement using the form novia.Tatoeba #1937267 by marcelostockle, translation #1935173 by Spamster
- No sos mi novia.You're not my girlfriend.Tatoeba #5051082 by don_ramon, translation #2545042 by CK
- Ella es mi novia.She is my girlfriend.This sentence demonstrates an affirmative statement using the form novia.Tatoeba #451714 by Shishir, translation #312168 by CK
- Mi novia es increíble.My girlfriend is amazing.
- Mi pareja y yo iremos al evento juntos.My partner and I will attend the event together.
- Mi chica y yo vamos al cine esta noche.My girlfriend and I are going to the movies tonight.
- 300 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Javier introduces Lucía to a friend.
- JavierTe presento a mi novia, Lucía.I introduce you to my girlfriend, Lucía.
- LucíaMucho gusto, Lucía.Nice to meet you, Lucía.
- JavierElla es la mejor novia del mundo.She is the best girlfriend in the world.
- LucíaSe nota que son muy felices.It shows that you are very happy.
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.
