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Usage
Niño means “child” and refers to a young boy (or niña for a girl). It’s the most general and neutral term for a child.
Chico means “boy” or “kid” and is more casual and familiar. It can also mean “guy” in informal contexts and is sometimes used for teenagers.
Muchacho means “young man” or “boy” and is used for older children or teenagers. It can be more formal or respectful depending on the region.
Regional Notes
- In Spain, chico is very common in everyday speech, while muchacho is less used and can sound old-fashioned.
- In Latin America, muchacho is widely used for teenagers and young workers, sometimes more respectfully than chico.
- Niño is universally understood across all Spanish-speaking regions.
Which word will everyone understand, no matter where you are in the Spanish-speaking world?
niño
'Niño' is a universally understood term for child across all Spanish-speaking regions.
Summary
Use niño/niña for young children, chico for casual “kid” or “guy,” and muchacho for older boys or teenagers, especially in Latin America.
When should you use niño/niña, chico/chica, and muchacho/muchacha?
Use **niño/niña** for young children, **chico/chica** for casual kids or teenagers, and **muchacho/muchacha** for older boys or young men.
The standard usage is to use niño/niña for young children, chico/chica for casual 'kid' or 'guy', and muchacho/muchacha for older boys or teenagers.
Last updated: Wed Jun 18, 2025
