How to Say "guy" in Spanish
The most common Spanish word for “guy” is “chico” — use 'chico' to refer to a young man or boy in a general, informal way, similar to 'boy' or 'kid'..
chico
/CHEE-ko//ˈtʃiko/
Examples
El chico juega con su perro en el jardín.
The boy is playing with his dog in the garden.
Hay un chico nuevo en mi clase de español.
There's a new guy in my Spanish class.
¡Chicos, la cena está lista!
Kids, dinner is ready!
Masculine and Feminine Forms
Use chico when talking about a boy. If you're talking about a girl, you just swap the 'o' for an 'a': chica. For a group of boys or a mixed group of boys and girls, use the plural chicos.
`Chico` vs. `Niño`
Mistake: “Using `chico` and `niño` as if they are exactly the same.”
Correction: `Niño` usually refers to a younger child (around 2-10 years old). `Chico` is more general and can be used for a young child, a teenager, or even a young man in his 20s. When in doubt, `chico` is often a safe bet.
hombre
/OM-breh//ˈombɾe/
Examples
El hombre alto lee un libro.
The tall man is reading a book.
¿Conoces a ese hombre de allí?
Do you know that man over there?
Mi hombre llega a las seis.
My husband gets here at six.
Always Masculine
The word 'hombre' is always masculine, so you'll always use 'el' or 'un' before it. For example, 'el hombre' (the man) or 'un hombre' (a man).
Mixing up 'hombre' and 'hombro'
Mistake: “Me duele el hombre.”
Correction: Me duele el hombro. (My shoulder hurts). Be careful with that one letter difference! 'Hombre' is a person, 'hombro' is a body part.
muchacho
/moo-CHAH-choh//muˈtʃatʃo/
Examples
El muchacho está jugando en el parque.
The boy is playing in the park.
Vi a un grupo de muchachos hablando en la esquina.
I saw a group of boys talking on the corner.
Es un buen muchacho, siempre ayuda a su familia.
He's a good lad, he always helps his family.
Changing the Ending for Girls
This word changes to 'muchacha' when you're talking about a girl. The little word in front also changes: 'el muchacho' (the boy) becomes 'la muchacha' (the girl).
Making it Plural
To talk about more than one boy, add an '-s' to make 'muchachos'. For a group of girls, it's 'muchachas'. For a mixed group of boys and girls, you use the masculine form: 'los muchachos'.
Using 'Muchacho' for an Adult Man
Mistake: “Llamé al muchacho para que arreglara la tubería.”
Correction: Llamé al hombre para que arreglara la tubería. 'Muchacho' usually refers to a boy, teenager, or very young man. Using it for a grown adult can sound a bit strange or even like you're talking down to them, unless you're much older.
tipo
/tee-poh//ˈtipo/
Examples
Vi a un tipo extraño en la calle.
I saw a strange guy on the street.
¿Conoces a ese tipo de allá?
Do you know that guy over there?
El tipo de la tienda fue muy amable.
The guy from the store was very nice.
Not for Direct Address
Mistake: “Calling out to a stranger, '¡Oye, tipo!'”
Correction: You use 'tipo' to talk *about* a guy, but not to his face. To get someone's attention, you would say '¡Oiga!', '¡Perdone!', or '¡Disculpe!'.
sujeto
soo-HEH-toh/suˈxeto/
Examples
Vimos a un sujeto sospechoso cerca de la tienda.
We saw a suspicious individual near the store.
Ese sujeto siempre llega tarde a las reuniones.
That guy always arrives late to the meetings.
La policía está buscando a un sujeto de 40 años.
The police are looking for a 40-year-old suspect.
tío
Examples
Oye, tío, ¿qué hora es?
Hey dude, what time is it?
chaval
/cha-VAL//tʃaˈβal/
Examples
¿Qué pasa, chaval? ¿Vienes a la fiesta?
What's up, mate? Are you coming to the party?
Oye, chaval, ¿me puedes pasar la sal?
Hey, guy, can you pass me the salt?
Direct Address
When used in this way, 'chaval' is like an exclamation or a direct address, similar to putting 'hey' or 'man' at the beginning of a sentence.
Formal Situations
Mistake: “Using 'chaval' to address an older person or someone in a professional setting.”
Correction: This word is highly informal. Use 'Señor' or 'Señora' for respect, or 'usted' for formal address.
individuo
in-dee-VEE-dwo/in.diˈβi.ðwo/
Examples
¿Quién es ese individuo que está mirando por la ventana?
Who is that guy looking through the window?
Llamaron a la policía por un individuo sospechoso en la calle.
They called the police about a suspicious character on the street.
nene
NEH-neh/ˈne.ne/
Examples
¿Qué quieres de cenar, nene?
What do you want for dinner, honey?
Hola, nene. ¿Cómo te fue en el trabajo?
Hello, sweetheart. How was work?
pollo
POH-yoh (The 'll' sounds like 'y' in most of Latin America and Spain)/ˈpoʝo/
Examples
Mira qué pollo más guapo está esperando el autobús.
Look what a handsome guy is waiting for the bus. (Spain)
Mi hermana me presentó a su nuevo pollo el fin de semana.
My sister introduced me to her new boyfriend/guy friend over the weekend. (Spain)
Using Slang Regionally
Mistake: “Using 'pollo' to mean 'guy' outside of Spain.”
Correction: While understood, this usage is strongly associated with Spain. In Latin America, use 'chico' or 'chavo' instead, depending on the country.
Choosing Between 'Chico', 'Muchacho', and 'Tipo'
Related Translations
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