infancia
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📝 In Action
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.
💡 Grammar Points
Feminine Noun Rule
Most Spanish nouns that end in '-cia' are feminine, like 'infancia'. Remember to use feminine articles and adjectives with it (e.g., 'la infancia', 'mi feliz infancia').
❌ Common Pitfalls
Using the wrong gender
Mistake: "El infancia fue difícil."
Correction: La infancia fue difícil. ('Infancia' is a feminine word, so it must use 'la'.)
⭐ Usage Tips
Talking about the Past
When describing ongoing conditions or states during this period (like where you lived or how you felt), you will typically use the Imperfect tense: 'En mi infancia, vivía en Madrid' (In my childhood, I lived in Madrid).
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: infancia
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence correctly uses 'infancia'?
📚 More Resources
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').