chicos
/CHEE-kohs/
kids / children
Los chicos playing happily together, representing kids or a mixed group of children.
chicos(Noun)
📝 In Action
Los chicos están jugando en el parque.
A1The kids (or boys) are playing in the park.
Hola chicos, ¿cómo están?
A1Hey guys, how are you?
Tengo dos chicos, un niño y una niña.
A2I have two kids, a boy and a girl.
💡 Grammar Points
The 'Masculine Plural' Rule for Mixed Groups
In Spanish, if you have a group of people that includes even one male, you use the masculine plural form. So, 'chicos' can mean 'a group of boys' OR 'a group of boys and girls'.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Forgetting the Mixed-Group Rule
Mistake: "Seeing a group of 10 girls and 1 boy and calling them 'las chicas'."
Correction: Even with just one boy, the group becomes 'los chicos'. It feels strange at first, but it's a key rule in Spanish.
⭐ Usage Tips
Your Go-To for 'Guys'
Calling a group of friends or peers 'chicos' is a super common and friendly way to get their attention, just like saying 'Hey guys!' It works for almost any informal group, not just children.
Multiple small coffee cups illustrating the adjective form of 'chicos' (small).
chicos(Adjective)
📝 In Action
Prefiero los cafés chicos, no los grandes.
A2I prefer the small coffees, not the large ones.
Estos zapatos me quedan chicos.
B1These shoes are too small for me.
Compré dos pantalones chicos para el viaje.
A2I bought two small pairs of pants for the trip.
💡 Grammar Points
Adjectives Must Match
As an adjective, 'chicos' has to agree with the noun it describes. It's used for things that are both masculine and plural, like 'los perros chicos' (the small male dogs).
❌ Common Pitfalls
Word Order
Mistake: "Compré unos chicos pantalones."
Correction: Compré unos pantalones chicos. Unlike in English, adjectives for size, color, and shape usually come *after* the thing they're describing in Spanish.
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: chicos
Question 1 of 1
If a teacher says, '¡Silencio, chicos!' to a classroom of boys and girls, what does 'chicos' mean?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between 'chicos' and 'niños'?
'Niños' usually refers to younger children, like 'children' in English. 'Chicos' is broader and can mean children, teenagers, or even be used informally for a group of adults (like 'guys'). Think of 'niños' as more specific to childhood, while 'chicos' is more versatile and informal.
Can I use 'chicos' to address my older colleagues at work?
It depends on the workplace culture. In a very informal or creative office, it might be fine. However, in a more formal setting, it could sound too casual. When in doubt, it's safer to use 'colegas' (colleagues) or 'equipo' (team).