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A simple illustration showing three young boys running and laughing in a sunny park.

muchachos

/moo-CHAH-chohs/

NounmA1
boys?a group of male children or young men,guys?informal, can include a mixed-gender group
Also:lads?UK/Ireland equivalent,kids?referring to children,young people?more general,folks?informal address to a group, e.g., 'Hey folks!'

📝 In Action

Los muchachos están jugando al fútbol en el parque.

A1

The boys are playing soccer in the park.

¡Hola, muchachos! ¿Cómo están?

A2

Hey, guys! How are you?

Un grupo de muchachos y muchachas fue al cine.

A2

A group of boys and girls went to the movies.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • chicos (guys, kids)
  • jóvenes (young people)
  • niños (children, boys)

Antonyms

  • muchachas (girls)

Common Collocations

  • un grupo de muchachos – a group of guys/boys
  • ¡Vamos, muchachos! – Let's go, guys!

💡 Grammar Points

The 'Inclusive' Masculine Form

In Spanish, if a group includes even one boy among many girls, you use the masculine plural 'muchachos' to refer to everyone. It's the default for mixed groups.

❌ Common Pitfalls

Forgetting the Mixed-Group Rule

Mistake: "Seeing a group of boys and girls and thinking you must always say 'muchachos y muchachas'."

Correction: It's more common and natural to just say 'muchachos' to include everyone. Saying both is usually for emphasis or clarification, not a requirement.

⭐ Usage Tips

Friendly and Casual

'Muchachos' is a warm and friendly way to talk about or address a group of young people. It's very similar to saying 'guys' or 'folks' in English.

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: muchachos

Question 1 of 1

You see a group of five girls and one boy playing. What is the most natural way to refer to the group in Spanish?

📚 More Resources

Word Family

muchacho(boy, guy) - noun
muchacha(girl) - noun
muchachada(group of youngsters, crowd of kids) - noun

Frequently Asked Questions

Is 'muchachos' offensive or too informal?

Not at all! It's generally considered friendly and is used in neutral to informal situations. It's safe for most everyday conversations, but you might choose a more formal word like 'jóvenes' (young people) in a very official setting.

Can I use 'muchachos' to talk about a group of only girls?

No, that would be incorrect. For a group of all girls, you must use the feminine plural form, 'muchachas'.