niña
/NEEN-yah/
girl
The word niña primarily means 'girl' or 'female child'.
niña(Noun)
girl
?a female child
child
?when referring to a female child
,daughter
?informal, when speaking about one's own child
📝 In Action
La niña juega con su muñeca.
A1The girl plays with her doll.
Mi hermana tiene una niña y un niño.
A1My sister has a girl and a boy.
Cuando era niña, vivía en el campo.
A2When I was a girl, I lived in the countryside.
💡 Grammar Points
Matching with 'la'
Because 'niña' is a 'feminine' word (ends in -a), you'll almost always use 'la' (the) or 'una' (a/an) with it. For example, 'la niña alta' (the tall girl).
Making it Plural
To talk about more than one girl, just add an 's' to the end: 'niñas'. Remember to also change 'la' to 'las'. For example, 'las niñas están jugando' (the girls are playing).
❌ Common Pitfalls
Niña vs. Chica
Mistake: "Using 'niña' to talk about a 20-year-old woman."
Correction: It's better to use 'chica' or 'muchacha' for teenagers and young women. 'Niña' is usually for a child, roughly under 12 years old.
⭐ Usage Tips
Talking About Your Daughter
It's very common and warm for parents to refer to their daughter as 'mi niña' (my girl) even when she's an adult.
Niña can also be used as a term of endearment, similar to 'honey' or 'darling,' often used by parents or close partners.
niña(Noun)
girl
?as a term of endearment, like 'honey' or 'darling'
girlfriend
?less common than 'novia', can be regional
📝 In Action
Hola, niña, ¿qué tal el trabajo hoy?
B1Hey girl, how was work today?
Mi niña, te preparé tu comida favorita.
B1My darling, I made you your favorite food.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Using with Strangers
Mistake: "Calling a female shopkeeper you don't know 'niña'."
Correction: Only use this with people you have a close, informal relationship with, like a partner, daughter, or very close friend. Otherwise, it can sound overly familiar or even disrespectful.
⭐ Usage Tips
Context is Everything
The meaning of 'niña' in this sense depends entirely on your tone and relationship. It can be romantic (from a partner), paternal (from a father), or just friendly affection.
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: niña
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence is the most appropriate way to talk about a 10-year-old female child?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between 'niña', 'chica', and 'muchacha'?
Think of it in terms of age. 'Niña' is for a child (roughly 0-12 years). 'Chica' is very flexible but often means a teenager or young woman (13-25). 'Muchacha' is similar to 'chica', maybe slightly more formal or traditional depending on the region. When in doubt for a young person, 'chica' is often a safe bet.
Can I call my adult daughter 'mi niña'?
Yes, absolutely! It's a very common and loving term of endearment for parents to use for their children, no matter how old they are. It's similar to an English speaker calling their grown daughter 'my baby girl'.