novia
“novia” means “girlfriend” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
girlfriend
Also: fiancée
📝 In Action
Mi novia y yo vamos al cine esta noche.
A1My girlfriend and I are going to the movies tonight.
Le presenté mi novia a mis padres.
A2I introduced my girlfriend to my parents.
Llevan cinco años de novios y ahora mi novia y yo nos vamos a casar.
B1They have been together for five years, and now my fiancée and I are going to get married.
bride
📝 In Action
La novia llevaba un vestido blanco precioso.
A2The bride wore a beautiful white dress.
Todos miraban a la novia mientras caminaba hacia el altar.
B1Everyone watched the bride as she walked to the altar.
El padre de la novia dio un discurso muy emotivo.
B1The father of the bride gave a very emotional speech.
Vocabulary Collections
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✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: novia
Question 1 of 2
If someone says, 'Mira, ¡qué guapa está la novia!', and they are at a wedding, what do they mean?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
Comes from the Latin word 'novius' or 'novia', meaning 'new'. It originally referred to a 'newlywed' or someone new to a family through marriage.
First recorded: Around the 13th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between 'novia' and 'esposa'?
'Novia' is used for a girlfriend, a fiancée, or a bride on her wedding day. Once she is married, she is called an 'esposa' (wife).
How do I say 'boyfriend'?
The masculine version is 'novio'. It works the same way: it can mean boyfriend, fiancé, or groom.
Are there other, more casual words for girlfriend?
Yes, it depends on the country! For example, in Chile people often say 'polola', and in parts of Mexico, you might hear 'chava' or 'morra' informally. But 'novia' is understood everywhere and is the most standard term.