infancia
“infancia” means “childhood” in Spanish (The period of being a child).
childhood
Also: infancy
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Mi abuela siempre cuenta historias divertidas de su infancia.
A2My grandmother always tells funny stories from her childhood.
La infancia es una etapa crucial para el desarrollo de la personalidad.
B1Childhood is a crucial stage for personality development.
El proyecto está todavía en su infancia y necesita más inversión.
B2The project is still in its infancy and needs more investment.
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Quick Quiz: infancia
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence correctly uses 'infancia'?
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👥 Word Family▼
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼
Comes from the Latin word *infantia*, which originally meant 'inability to speak' or 'speechlessness.' It is related to the word *infans* (infant), literally meaning 'not speaking.' This highlights the early stage of life before language acquisition.
First recorded: 13th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a difference between 'infancia' and 'niñez'?
Yes, but they are often used interchangeably. 'Infancia' usually refers to the period from birth up to around age 7 or 8. 'Niñez' is a slightly broader term that can cover the entire period of being a child before adolescence. For most conversations, they mean the same thing: childhood.
Does 'infancia' only refer to human children?
No. While most commonly used for people, 'infancia' can also be used metaphorically to describe the very beginning stage of anything, like a project, an idea, or a civilization (e.g., 'la infancia de la tecnología').