How To Say "Children" In Spanish
If you are learning Spanish or traveling to a Spanish-speaking country, you might be wondering how to say "children" in Spanish. "Children" is a word that refers to young human beings who are not yet adults, and it has different translations depending on the Spanish-speaking region.
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What is "Children" in Spanish?
"Children" can be translated to Spanish as "niños", "niñas", "chicos", "chicas", "infantes", "pequeños", "criaturas", and "prole", among others. Each of these words has its own regional nuances, and some are more commonly used in specific countries.
Meaning of "Children" in Spanish
- Niños/Niñas (IPA: /ˈni.ɲos/ or /ˈni.ɲas/): These are the most commonly used terms for "children" in Spanish. Niños refers to boys, while niñas refers to girls. This word is used across Latin America and Spain and is generally considered neutral and inoffensive.
- Chicos/Chicas (IPA: /ˈtʃi.kos/ or /ˈtʃi.kas/): This is another way to say "Children" in Spanish, and it is commonly used in Argentina, Uruguay, and parts of Mexico. Chicos refers to boys, while chicas refers to girls. This word is considered informal and is usually used among friends or in a casual context.
- Infantes (IPA: /inˈfan.tes/): This is an old-fashioned word for "children", and it is rarely used in modern Spanish. It can refer to young children, but it is also used to refer to the heirs to the Spanish throne.
- Pequeños (IPA: /peˈke.ɲos/): This word means "little ones" in Spanish and is often used to refer to young children. It is commonly used in Spain and other Spanish-speaking countries.
- Criaturas (IPA: /kɾi.aˈtu.ɾas/): This word means "creatures" in Spanish and is often used to refer to young children, especially babies. It can also be used to refer to animals.
- Prole (IPA: /ˈpɾo.le/): This word means "offspring" in Spanish and is a more formal way to refer to "children". It is rarely used in modern Spanish.
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Regional Variations
As mentioned earlier, there are some regional variations in the way that "children" is referred to in Spanish. Here are some examples:
- In Argentina and Uruguay, "chicos" is commonly used instead of "niños".
- In Spain, "chiquillos" is a word that is often used in the northern regions of the country, particularly in Galicia and Asturias.
- In some parts of Mexico, güeritos (IPA phonetics: /ˈɡwe.ɾi.tos/) is a term that is sometimes used to refer to light-skinned children.
Bulleted List
Here are some additional words and phrases related to "children" in Spanish that you might find useful:
- Infancia (IPA phonetics: /inˈfan.θja/): Childhood
- Adolescencia (IPA phonetics: /a.ðo.lesˈθen.θja/): Adolescence
- Juventud (IPA phonetics: /xu.βenˈtud/): Youth
- Jugar (IPA phonetics: /ˈxu.ɣar/): To Play
- Educación (IPA phonetics: /e.ðu.kaˈθjon/): Education
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How to Say "Children" in Spanish: Sample Sentences
Here are five sample sentences you can use to say "children" in Spanish:
- Los niños son muy juguetones.
(Children are very playful.)
- Los niños están jugando en el parque.
(The children are playing in the park.)
- En la escuela hay muchos niños que estudian y aprenden.
(In school, there are many children who study and learn.)
- Los derechos de los niños son muy importantes para garantizar un futuro justo y equitativo.
(Children's rights are very important to ensure a fair and equitable future.)
- Los niños son muy juguetones.
(Children are very playful.)
Conclusion
In conclusion, there are different ways to say "children" in Spanish, each with its own regional nuances and connotations. If you are learning Spanish, it is important to understand these different translations and to use them appropriately depending on the context and the country you are in. Whether you are traveling to a Spanish-speaking country or simply learning the language for personal or professional reasons, understanding the different translations of "children" in Spanish is an essential part of mastering the language.