In Spanish, niño, chico, and muchacho all refer to males in the younger age groups but carry different connotations and are used in distinct contexts.
- Niño: Refers to a young child, typically between toddler age and around 12 years old. It is a formal and widely used term for "child."
- Chico: More informal and colloquial, "chico" is often used for children and teenagers, roughly from 6 up to the late teens. It can also mean "guy" in casual contexts.
- Muchacho: Bridges childhood and young adulthood, commonly used for older children, adolescents, and even young men. It has a neutral tone and is versatile in different regions.
niño
Around 6 to 18 years old
'muchacho' covers teenagers and young men, but not toddlers or formal child references.