chicas
“chicas” means “girls” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
girls
Also: gals, ladies
📝 In Action
Las chicas están jugando en el parque.
A1The girls are playing in the park.
¡Hola, chicas! ¿Cómo estáis?
A1Hi, girls! How are you?
Voy a salir con unas chicas de la oficina.
A2I'm going out with some girls from the office.
small
Also: little
📝 In Action
Prefiero las porciones más chicas.
A2I prefer the smaller portions.
Estas camisetas me quedan chicas.
B1These t-shirts are too small for me.
Compramos dos pizzas chicas en vez de una grande.
A2We bought two small pizzas instead of one large one.
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: chicas
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence uses 'chicas' to mean 'small'?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼
From the Vulgar Latin word 'ciccuma', which meant 'a worthless thing' or 'trifle'. Over time, its meaning shifted to describe something small, and eventually, a small person or child.
First recorded: Around the 15th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use 'chicas' to talk about adult women?
Yes, in informal and friendly situations, it's very common to refer to a group of female friends or colleagues as 'chicas', similar to saying 'the girls' or 'ladies' in English. However, in a formal setting, 'mujeres' (women) or 'señoras' (ladies/women) would be more appropriate.
What's the difference between 'chicas' and 'niñas'?
'Niñas' specifically means young female children, usually before their teenage years. 'Chicas' is a broader term that can mean girls, teenagers, or even young adult women.