nena
/NEH-nah/
little girl
"Nena" is often used to refer to a little girl.
nena(Noun)
little girl
?referring to a child
baby girl
?referring to an infant
,sweetie
?as a term of endearment for a child
📝 In Action
La nena está durmiendo la siesta.
A2The little girl is taking a nap.
¡Qué bonita está la nena con ese vestido!
A2The little girl looks so pretty in that dress!
⭐ Usage Tips
Affectionate and Familiar
Use 'nena' like you would use 'sweetie' or 'honey' for a little girl. It sounds much warmer and more personal than the standard word 'niña'.
As a term of endearment, "nena" translates to affectionate terms like "babe" or "honey."
nena(Noun)
babe
?term of endearment for a partner
baby
?term of endearment
,darling
?term of endearment
,honey
?term of endearment
📝 In Action
Hola, nena, ¿cómo estuvo tu día?
B1Hi, babe, how was your day?
Te quiero mucho, nena.
A2I love you so much, baby.
Nena, ¿quieres ir al cine esta noche?
B1Babe, do you want to go to the movies tonight?
⭐ Usage Tips
For Your Partner
This is a very common and sweet way to address your girlfriend or wife. It's the direct equivalent of calling someone 'baby' or 'babe' in English.
"Nena" can be used casually to address a young woman.
nena(Noun)
girl
?addressing a young woman casually
chick
?very informal
,honey
?addressing a stranger, can be patronizing
📝 In Action
Oye, nena, ¿me pasas la sal?
B2Hey, girl, can you pass me the salt?
Tranquila, nena, no te preocupes, todo va a estar bien.
B2Calm down, honey, don't worry, everything will be fine.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Watch Your Tone!
Mistake: "Calling an older woman, a stranger, or a professional colleague 'nena'."
Correction: Use 'señora', 'disculpe', or her name. 'Nena' can sound disrespectful or overly familiar with strangers or in formal settings. It's best to avoid this usage unless you know the person very well.
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: nena
Question 1 of 1
Your friend is telling you about his romantic evening. Which sentence is he most likely to say?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use 'nena' to talk to any woman?
It's safest to only use 'nena' for your own small child or your romantic partner. Using it with friends is possible depending on your relationship, but calling a stranger, an older woman, or a colleague 'nena' can sound disrespectful or condescending.
What is the difference between 'nena' and 'niña'?
'Niña' is the standard, neutral word for 'girl'. 'Nena' is an informal and affectionate version, like the difference between 'girl' and 'sweetie' or 'little one'. You'd see 'niña' in a textbook, but you'd hear 'nena' at home.