Inklingo

How to Say "boys" in Spanish

English → Spanish

chicos

/CHEE-kohs//ˈtʃikos/

NounA1Informal
Use 'chicos' when referring to a general group of boys or mixed-gender children, often implying a slightly more informal or youthful context.
A diverse group of young children, boys and girls, laughing and playing together in a sunny park.

Examples

Los chicos están jugando en el parque.

The kids (or boys) are playing in the park.

Hola chicos, ¿cómo están?

Hey guys, how are you?

Tengo dos chicos, un niño y una niña.

I have two kids, a boy and a girl.

The 'Masculine Plural' Rule for Mixed Groups

In Spanish, if you have a group of people that includes even one male, you use the masculine plural form. So, 'chicos' can mean 'a group of boys' OR 'a group of boys and girls'.

Forgetting the Mixed-Group Rule

Mistake: “Seeing a group of 10 girls and 1 boy and calling them 'las chicas'.”

Correction: Even with just one boy, the group becomes 'los chicos'. It feels strange at first, but it's a key rule in Spanish.

niños

Noun (Plural)A1Neutral
Opt for 'niños' when specifically referring to young male children, emphasizing their youth and often used in more general or educational settings.

Examples

Los niños están en la escuela.

The children are at school.

muchachos

/moo-CHAH-chohs//muˈtʃa.tʃos/

NounA1Neutral
Choose 'muchachos' to refer to a group of male children or young men, often implying a slightly older age group than 'niños' and commonly used when discussing activities like sports.
A simple illustration showing three young boys running and laughing in a sunny park.

Examples

Los muchachos están jugando al fútbol en el parque.

The boys are playing soccer in the park.

¡Hola, muchachos! ¿Cómo están?

Hey, guys! How are you?

Un grupo de muchachos y muchachas fue al cine.

A group of boys and girls went to the movies.

The 'Inclusive' Masculine Form

In Spanish, if a group includes even one boy among many girls, you use the masculine plural 'muchachos' to refer to everyone. It's the default for mixed groups.

Forgetting the Mixed-Group Rule

Mistake: “Seeing a group of boys and girls and thinking you must always say 'muchachos y muchachas'.”

Correction: It's more common and natural to just say 'muchachos' to include everyone. Saying both is usually for emphasis or clarification, not a requirement.

Chicos vs. Niños

The most common mistake is overusing 'niños' for all groups of boys. Remember that 'niños' specifically means 'young children,' while 'chicos' is a more versatile term for 'boys' or 'kids' that can also include teenagers.

Related Translations

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