Inklingo
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novia

/NOH-byah/

girlfriend

A simple illustration of a young man and woman sitting close together on a park bench, holding hands and smiling, representing a girlfriend.

Novia, meaning 'girlfriend' or 'fiancée', is used for a female romantic partner.

novia(Noun)

fA1

girlfriend

?

In a romantic relationship

Also:

fiancée

?

When engaged to be married

📝 In Action

Mi novia y yo vamos al cine esta noche.

A1

My girlfriend and I are going to the movies tonight.

Le presenté mi novia a mis padres.

A2

I introduced my girlfriend to my parents.

Llevan cinco años de novios y ahora mi novia y yo nos vamos a casar.

B1

They have been together for five years, and now my fiancée and I are going to get married.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • polola (girlfriend (Chile))
  • jeva (girlfriend (Caribbean, slang))

Antonyms

  • exnovia (ex-girlfriend)
  • amiga (friend (female))

Common Collocations

  • tener novia – to have a girlfriend
  • buscar novia – to look for a girlfriend
  • romper con la novia – to break up with one's girlfriend

💡 Grammar Points

Matching the Gender: 'Novia' vs. 'Novio'

'Novia' is specifically for a female partner. The word for a male partner is 'novio'. Remember to use the one that matches the person you're talking about.

❌ Common Pitfalls

Friend vs. Girlfriend: 'Amiga' vs. 'Novia'

Mistake: "Voy a la fiesta con mi amiga. (When you mean she is your romantic partner.)"

Correction: Voy a la fiesta con mi novia. 'Amiga' just means a female friend. Using 'novia' makes it clear that you are in a romantic relationship.

⭐ Usage Tips

From Dating to Engaged

The word 'novia' covers both 'girlfriend' and 'fiancée'. The situation usually makes it clear which one you mean. If someone mentions wedding plans, 'novia' means fiancée.

A simple illustration of a woman wearing a long white wedding dress and holding a floral bouquet, representing a bride.

Novia also means 'bride' when referring to a woman on her wedding day.

novia(Noun)

fA2

bride

?

A woman on her wedding day

📝 In Action

La novia llevaba un vestido blanco precioso.

A2

The bride wore a beautiful white dress.

Todos miraban a la novia mientras caminaba hacia el altar.

B1

Everyone watched the bride as she walked to the altar.

El padre de la novia dio un discurso muy emotivo.

B1

The father of the bride gave a very emotional speech.

Word Connections

Antonyms

  • novio (groom)

Common Collocations

  • vestido de novia – wedding dress
  • la novia y el novio – the bride and groom
  • dama de honor de la novia – bride's maid of honor

Idioms & Expressions

  • quedarse para vestir santos – to become an old maid; to never marry

⭐ Usage Tips

Before and After 'I Do'

A woman is the 'novia' (bride) during her wedding ceremony. After she is officially married, she is called the 'esposa' (wife).

Context is Everything

If you hear 'novia' at a wedding, or when people are talking about a wedding, it almost always means 'bride'.

✏️ 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

novio(boyfriend, groom) - noun
noviazgo(relationship, courtship, engagement) - noun

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.