niñez

nee-NYESS/niˈɲeθ/

“niñez” means “childhood” in Spanish (the period of time when someone is a child).

childhood

Also: infancy

SpainLatin America

Tuve una niñez muy feliz en el campo.

I had a very happy childhood in the countryside.

Muchos de mis mejores recuerdos son de mi niñez.

Many of my best memories are from my childhood.

La niñez es una etapa fundamental para el desarrollo del cerebro.

Childhood is a fundamental stage for brain development.

Question 1 of 3

How do you say 'happy childhood' in Spanish?

👥 Word Family▼

niño(boy/child) — Noun

niñito(little boy) — Noun

niñería(childish thing) — Noun

niñero(babysitter) — Noun

🎵 Rhymes▼

📚 Etymology▼

From the Spanish word 'niño' (child) combined with the ending '-ez', which is used to turn descriptions into abstract concepts or states of being.

First recorded: 13th century

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What is the difference between 'niñez' and 'infancia'?

They are mostly interchangeable. 'Infancia' is sometimes considered more formal or technical, while 'niñez' is very common in everyday storytelling.

Can 'niñez' mean a group of children?

Yes, in a formal or sociological context, 'la niñez' can refer to children as a collective group in society.

Does it ever have an accent mark?

No, 'niñez' is stressed on the last syllable naturally because it ends in 'z', so it doesn't need a written accent.