Spanish Conversation · Level 48
74 words
Spanish word
nena
Pronunciation
IPA/ˈnena/
Meaning
- feminine noungirl
Example
La nena corre rápido.
The girl runs fast.
More examples
¿Dónde está la nena pequeña?
Where is the little girl?
Core concept
Familiar pet name for a girl or young woman.
Common phrases
una nena
a girl
la nena pequeña
the little girl
cuidar a la nena
take care of the girl
Similar words
niña: Names a young female child in neutral, standard contexts.
chica: Characterizes a teenage girl or young woman in casual, everyday language.
muchacha: Labels a young woman or older teen with a generally neutral, sometimes regional usage.
Definition in Spanish
Palabra coloquial y afectuosa para referirse a una niña o a una joven de forma familiar.
Word origin
It derives from the nursery form nene meaning baby, adapted with -a to create the feminine nena used in familiar speech for a girl or young woman.
Usage tips
- Less neutral than niña or chica and depending on tone can sound intimate or patronizing, so reserve it for close relationships.