In Spanish, niño and hijo are two important nouns that highlight different aspects of family and age. Niño refers to a child—specifically a boy—and is used for young people in general, while hijo means a son, emphasizing the parental relationship. Understanding these distinctions helps you avoid confusion and use each word appropriately.
- niño: a child (usually a boy), sometimes used broadly for young people
- hijo: a son, specifically the male child of one's parents
- niño is about age; hijo is about family role
*niño* means a (male) child, typically a boy.
*hijo* is used for 'son', not just any child.
Niño
Niño (plural: niños) means a boy or child and is used for young males—though sometimes niños can refer to children in general when mixed genders are included. The corresponding female form is niña (girl).
- niño = boy child, niña = girl child
- niños = children (usually boys or mixed group)
- Focuses on age, not family role
Example:
- El niño juega en el parque.
(The boy (child) plays in the park.)
*niños* can mean 'children' for mixed-gender groups.
Hijo
Hijo (plural: hijos) means son (or sons) and specifically denotes a parent-child relationship. When you use hijo, you’re emphasizing that this person is a child of someone else (the parents).
- hijo = son, hija = daughter
- hijos = sons or children of parents (male or mixed group)
- Emphasizes family/legal relationship, not just age
Example:
- Mi hijo tiene diez años.
(My son is ten years old.)
*hijo* expresses both 'son' and the familial bond between parent and child.
Niño vs Hijo: Key Differences
| Word | Meaning | Focus | Typical Use | Female Form | Plural |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Niño | (Male) child/ boy | Age/Stage of life | El niño, los niños (children in mixed group) | Niña | Niños |
| Hijo | Son | Family relationship | Dedication to/from parents | Hija | Hijos (sons/children) |
- Use niño for a boy/child in general contexts.
- Use hijo when referring to someone’s son (family context).
Use *hijo* when you want to emphasize the family (parent-child) relationship.
Exercise:
Match each sentence with either niño or hijo:
- The teacher praised the child who solved the problem.
- Their son just started university.
- The children (boys) are very loud today.
- My daughter and son are both very talented.
Answers:
- Niño
- Hijo
- Niños
- Hijos
Conclusion:
Niño and hijo may both talk about males, but niño centers on childhood, while hijo highlights a familial role. Use niño for boys as children, and hijo when discussing sons within a family.
- niño = boy child; hijo = son (family member)
- niños can mean children; hijos means sons or children of parents
- Choosing the right word clarifies whether you mean “child” or “son” in conversation