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niño

NEEN-yoˈniɲo

“niño” means “boy” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:

boy

Also: child
NounmA1
MexicoArgentinaSpain
A happy young boy, around eight years old, playing with a colorful ball in a sunny green meadow.

📝 In Action

El niño juega en el parque.

A1

The boy plays in the park.

Mi hijo es un niño muy inteligente.

A2

My son is a very smart boy.

Word Connections

Synonyms

Antonyms

Common Collocations

  • un niño pequeño – a little boy
  • ropa de niño – boy's clothes
  • ser un niño bueno – to be a good boy

Idioms & Expressions

  • ser un niño de papá – to be a spoiled brat

children

Also: boys
mA1
A diverse group of four children, two boys and two girls, holding hands and running through a field.

📝 In Action

Los niños están en la escuela.

A1

The children are at school.

Tengo dos hijos, un niño y una niña. Mis niños se llevan muy bien.

A2

I have two kids, a boy and a girl. My children get along very well.

Solo los niños pueden entrar gratis.

B1

Only children can enter for free.

Word Connections

Synonyms

Antonyms

Common Collocations

  • cuidar a los niños – to babysit / to look after the children
  • parque para niños – children's park / playground

Idioms & Expressions

  • los niños y los borrachos siempre dicen la verdad – a phrase meaning that people are most honest when they are unfiltered, like children or drunk people.

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: niño

Question 1 of 3

If a teacher says, '¡Hola, niños!', who is she talking to?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
niña(girl) — Noun
niñez(childhood) — Noun
niñera(babysitter, nanny) — Noun
aniñado(childish) — Adjective
niñería(childishness, trifle) — Noun
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼

Comes from the Vulgar Latin word *nīnnus*, which was likely an expressive, onomatopoeic word—meaning it was based on a sound—used to refer to a child, similar to baby talk.

First recorded: Around the 13th century

Cognates (Related words)

Portuguese: meninoGalician: neno

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Frequently Asked Questions

What's the difference between 'niño', 'chico', and 'muchacho'?

'Niño' specifically means a young child, usually under 12. 'Chico' is more general and can mean 'kid', 'boy', or even 'guy' depending on the context and region. 'Muchacho' usually refers to a teenager or young man. 'Niño' is the most specific for 'child'.

How do I say 'children' if the group is all girls?

If the group consists only of girls, you must use the feminine plural: 'las niñas'. You only use 'los niños' for a group of all boys or a mixed group of boys and girls.

Is 'El Niño' the weather phenomenon related to this word?

Yes, it is! The weather pattern was named 'El Niño' (The Child, referring to the Christ child) by fishermen in South America because it often peaked around Christmastime.