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How to Say "infancy" in Spanish

The most common Spanish word for “infancy” is “infancia” — use 'infancia' to refer to the early stage of life or development, often with a slightly broader or more general connotation of childhood.

English → Spanish

infancia

een-FAHN-see-ahinˈfan.sja

nounB1general
Use 'infancia' to refer to the early stage of life or development, often with a slightly broader or more general connotation of childhood.
A simple, colorful illustration showing a young child running happily in a green field while flying a large, colorful kite.

Examples

Mi abuela siempre cuenta historias divertidas de su infancia.

My grandmother always tells funny stories from her childhood.

La infancia es una etapa crucial para el desarrollo de la personalidad.

Childhood is a crucial stage for personality development.

El proyecto está todavía en su infancia y necesita más inversión.

The project is still in its infancy and needs more investment.

Feminine Noun Rule

Most Spanish nouns that end in '-cia' are feminine, like 'infancia'. Remember to use feminine articles and adjectives with it (e.g., 'la infancia', 'mi feliz infancia').

Using the wrong gender

Mistake: “El infancia fue difícil.”

Correction: La infancia fue difícil. ('Infancia' is a feminine word, so it must use 'la'.)

niñez

nounA2general
Use 'niñez' specifically to talk about the years when someone is a child, emphasizing the period of childhood itself.

Examples

Tuve una niñez muy feliz en el campo.

I had a very happy childhood in the countryside.

Infancia vs. Niñez

Learners often use 'infancia' and 'niñez' interchangeably. While 'infancia' can sometimes include the earliest babyhood, 'niñez' specifically refers to the stage of being a child, making it the more direct translation for 'childhood'.

Related Translations

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