Spanish Conversation · Level 18
90 words
Spanish word
chico
Pronunciation
IPA/ˈtʃiko/
Meaning
- masculine nounboy
Example
El chico corre en el parque.
The boy runs in the park.
More examples
¿Viste al chico de la escuela?
Did you see the boy from school?
Core concept
An informal young male, like a kid or lad.
Common phrases
el chico de la escuela
the boy from school
un chico silencioso
a quiet boy
el chico rubio
the blond boy
Similar words
niño: Boy in early childhood, from infancy through primary-school age.
muchacho: School-age boy, typically preteen to early-teen years.
joven: Young male, adolescent or young adult, emphasis on youth.
chaval: Young male in Spain with a casual, colloquial tone.
Definition in Spanish
Se usa en contextos informales para referirse a un niño o a un joven de poca edad; existe también como adjetivo que significa 'pequeño'.
Word origin
The word goes back to Old Spanish chico meaning 'small', which extended into a familiar noun for a young male and yielded derivatives such as chiquillo.
Usage tips
- Masculine chico contrasts with chica for females, and plural chicos is used for groups of boys or mixed groups in standard Spanish.