Key Takeaways. Niño or niña, muchacho or muchacha, and chico or chica are the most common words used in Spanish to refer to children.
Papi (ito) / mami (ita)
Some Hispanic parents refer to their children as “papi” or “papito” and “mami” or “mamita”, especially in their childhood years.
Chaval - The Spanish word for “boy” or “kid”. In Mexico, “chamaco”. In Bolivia, Uruguay and Argentina, “pibe”.
Hijo – Son
And while this is the standard way of saying 'son', parents normally just call their children by their names or more loving nicknames. As a result, it's more common to use 'hijo' when talking to other people about your son and not as a way of calling him. El hijo de Oscar es médico.
Instead of using muchacho or muchacha or niño or niña, try out the Mexican slang term for “boy” or “girl,” which is chango or changa.
But generally, calling someone papi chulo is in reference to their appearance and their confidence, either with a negative (Rico Suave) or positive connotation (a hunk). Attitudes toward the term papi chulo are mixed among Latinx Americans, given chulo's history as a derogatory, racialized term in American English.
1. niña or nena: This is the most generic for “girl” and it can be use for a baby and teenagers.
Bebé is the most common word for baby. It is always masculine, even when referring to a girl. Infante and infanta, cognates of "infant," can refer to young children, not necessarily as young as would the English word.
Mija is a fusion of mi hija, “my daughter,” and Mijo of mi hijo, “my son.” Older family members often use this endearing term when they are addressing younger ones, even if they are not actually their son or daughter. Mijito and mijita are common variations.
Papi is a colloquial term for “daddy” in Spanish, but in many Spanish-speaking cultures, particularly in the Caribbean, it is often used as a general term of affection for any man, whether it's a relative, friend, or lover. The English “baby,” used as a term of endearment for spouses and children alike, is similar.
little girl → chica, chiquita, chiquitina, niña. little girl → chiquita, niña.
Mijo is used just like mija, meaning “my son” among family or elders or “buddy” among close male friends.
stupid [adjective] foolish; slow at understanding. silly [adjective] foolish; not sensible.
Hispanic children include those children who are born to Hispanic parents in the United States, as well as those individuals who recently immigrated to the United States from Hispanic countries.
So call your kidlet “muffin.” Call her “sweetheart” or “lovey” or “dollface.” Call her “precious” or “baby-cakes” or “lovebug.” Call her “honey pie.” But don't call her “princess.”
Niño or niña, muchacho or muchacha, and chico or chica are the most common words used in Spanish to refer to children.
Mi vida, a Spanish term of endearment, translates to English as “my life” and is used to address loved ones or partners with affection.
Mami / Mamacita – Baby Girl / Honey
'Mami' is a word that both dads and moms can use when calling their daughter. On top of that, Latin American speakers can also use the variation 'mamacita' with the same purpose. Both of these words are closer in meaning to 'baby girl' or 'honey'.
1. (= sweetheart) chico (chica) m/f. as a term of address) cariño ⧫ nene (nena) (inf) m/f. I didn't mean it, bae no iba en serio, nena.
Mi amado/a. Derived from the verb amar (to love), amado means “loved” in English. To call someone mi amado/a is much like calling them “my beloved.” A variation of this includes mi amor, which means basically the same thing.
But in most of Latin America, however, chula means “cute” or “pretty.” Chula is often seen in the phrase mami chula, a Spanish form of “hot mama” for a sexy woman. Its male counterpart is papi chulo, for a “ladies' man.”
papacito m (plural papacitos) Diminutive of papá; daddy synonyms ▲ Synonyms: papi, papaíto, papito.