Inklingo

How to Say "girls" in Spanish

The most common Spanish word for “girls” is “niñas” — use 'niñas' specifically for young female children, generally those under the age of puberty, emphasizing their youth and innocence.

niñasA1

Use 'niñas' specifically for young female children, generally those under the age of puberty, emphasizing their youth and innocence.

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chicas🔊A1

Use 'chicas' as a general term for a group of female children or young women, applicable from childhood through young adulthood.

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muchachas🔊A1

Use 'muchachas' for a group of females who are typically adolescents or very young adults, often implying they are students or in a similar age bracket.

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señoritasA1

Use 'señoritas' to refer to young women, typically teenagers or young adults, often implying a degree of politeness or formality.

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hijas🔊A1

Use 'hijas' exclusively when referring to one's own daughters, as it specifically means 'daughters' and not 'girls' in a general sense.

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minas🔊B1

Use 'minas' informally and colloquially to refer to young women, often with a casual, appreciative, or sometimes objectifying tone, common in some Latin American countries.

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viejas🔊B2

Use 'viejas' familiarly and informally to refer to one's close female friends, similar to saying 'my girls' or 'my pals' in English.

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English → Spanish

niñas

NounA1General
Use 'niñas' specifically for young female children, generally those under the age of puberty, emphasizing their youth and innocence.

Examples

Las niñas están jugando en el parque.

The girls are playing in the park.

chicas

CHEE-kahsˈtʃikas

NounA1General
Use 'chicas' as a general term for a group of female children or young women, applicable from childhood through young adulthood.
A drawing of three young girls with bright clothing standing together and smiling in a sunny outdoor setting.

Examples

Las chicas están jugando en el parque.

The girls are playing in the park.

¡Hola, chicas! ¿Cómo estáis?

Hi, girls! How are you?

Voy a salir con unas chicas de la oficina.

I'm going out with some girls from the office.

Plural of 'chica'

'Chicas' is the plural form of 'chica' (girl). To make most Spanish words plural that end in a vowel, you just add an -s.

Referring to a Mixed Group

Mistake: “Using 'chicas' to talk to a group of boys and girls.”

Correction: For a mixed group, always use the masculine plural form: 'chicos'. For example, 'Hola, chicos' works for a group of all boys or a group of boys and girls.

muchachas

moo-CHAH-chasmuˈt͡ʃa.t͡ʃas

NounA1General
Use 'muchachas' for a group of females who are typically adolescents or very young adults, often implying they are students or in a similar age bracket.
A storybook illustration showing three smiling young girls standing side by side.

Examples

Las muchachas están esperando a la salida de la escuela.

The girls are waiting outside the school.

¡Hola, muchachas! ¿Cómo les fue el fin de semana?

Hello, young women! How was your weekend?

Un grupo de muchachas organizó una fiesta sorpresa.

A group of young women organized a surprise party.

Plural and Gender

This word is the plural form of 'muchacha' and is always feminine. This means that any words describing or referring to the 'muchachas' (like 'las' or an adjective) must also be feminine and plural.

Using the wrong article

Mistake: “Los muchachas están aquí.”

Correction: Las muchachas están aquí. Remember, 'muchachas' requires the feminine plural article 'las'.

señoritas

NounA1Formal/General
Use 'señoritas' to refer to young women, typically teenagers or young adults, often implying a degree of politeness or formality.

Examples

Las señoritas en la mesa de al lado estaban riendo mucho.

The young ladies at the next table were laughing a lot.

hijas

EE-hassˈixas

NounA1Familial
Use 'hijas' exclusively when referring to one's own daughters, as it specifically means 'daughters' and not 'girls' in a general sense.
A storybook illustration showing two young girls standing together and smiling.

Examples

Mis hijas ya tienen veinte años.

My daughters are already twenty years old.

Ella tiene dos hijas y un hijo.

She has two daughters and one son.

Las hijas de mi vecina estudian música.

My neighbor's daughters study music.

Feminine Plural

This word is the plural form of the singular noun 'hija' (daughter). Since 'hija' ends in a vowel ('a'), we add an '-s' to make it plural: 'hijas'.

Gender Consistency

Since 'hijas' is a feminine plural noun, any adjectives or articles used with it must also be feminine and plural (e.g., 'Mis hijas' / 'Las hijas').

Confusing Gender Plurals

Mistake: “Using 'hijos' when referring only to female children.”

Correction: 'Hijos' (with an 'o') means 'sons' or 'children' (mixed gender group). Use 'hijas' (with an 'a') only when referring specifically to daughters.

minas

MEE-nahsˈminas

NounB1Informal
Use 'minas' informally and colloquially to refer to young women, often with a casual, appreciative, or sometimes objectifying tone, common in some Latin American countries.
A simple storybook illustration showing two smiling young women standing side-by-side on a sunny day.

Examples

¡Viste a esas minas en el concierto? ¡Qué buena onda!

Did you see those girls at the concert? They were really cool!

¿Viste a esas minas en el concierto? ¡Qué buena onda!

Did you see those girls at the concert? They were really cool!

Todas las minas de mi clase están estudiando mucho para el examen.

All the women in my class are studying hard for the exam.

Plural Noun

This is the plural form of the noun 'mina' (meaning 'girl' in this context). It's used just like 'chicas' or 'mujeres'.

Using Slang Universally

Mistake: “Using 'minas' in formal settings or outside of the Southern Cone/Andean regions.”

Correction: Use 'chicas' or 'mujeres' when traveling outside of countries like Argentina or Chile, or in professional situations.

viejas

vee-EHH-hahsˈbje.xas

NounB2Informal/Familiar
Use 'viejas' familiarly and informally to refer to one's close female friends, similar to saying 'my girls' or 'my pals' in English.
A colorful illustration of three young female friends sitting around a small table, laughing and enjoying a snack together.

Examples

Voy a salir con mis viejas esta noche.

I'm going out with my girls/pals tonight.

¿Dónde están las viejas? Llevan horas de retraso.

Where are the girls? They are hours late.

Possessive Use

This slang meaning is almost always used with a possessive word, like 'mis' (my) or 'tus' (your), to show close connection: 'mis viejas'.

Niñas vs. Chicas vs. Muchachas

The most common mistake is using 'niñas' or 'muchachas' for any group of females. Remember 'niñas' is for young children, 'muchachas' for teens/young adults, and 'chicas' is the most versatile general term for girls and young women.

Related Translations

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