#1  
Old September 15, 2009, 07:43 PM
Jessica's Avatar
Jessica Jessica is offline
...
 
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: PA
Posts: 8,187
Native Language: English, Chinese
Jessica is on a distinguished road
Question Chica/o y Muchacha/o

When do I use chica/o and when do I use muchacha/o?
Reply With Quote
   
Get rid of these ads by registering for a free Tomísimo account.
  #2  
Old September 15, 2009, 08:46 PM
ookami's Avatar
ookami ookami is offline
Sapphire
 
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Buenos Aires
Posts: 1,283
Native Language: Español(Argentina)
ookami is on a distinguished road
Indistinctly. They are synonyms.
If you ask me the use I do of them, I fell as if "chica/o" is more uncommon to read but a lot more common to hear/speak (like 90%), "muchacho/a" "joven" "niño/niña" "mozalbete" seems a little bit more formal to me.
__________________
Please, don't hesitate to correct my English.
'Time is a sort of river of passing events, and strong is its current; no sooner is a thing brought to sight than it is swept by and another takes its place, and this too will be swept away.' M.A.
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old September 15, 2009, 08:53 PM
poli's Avatar
poli poli is offline
rule 1: gravity
 
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: In and around New York
Posts: 7,810
Native Language: English
poli will become famous soon enoughpoli will become famous soon enough
Chico also means small. Más chico (smaller).
Different countries use other words for child. Chaval y pelao(pelado) are examples. I love the word escüincle (I'm nearly sure I spelled it wrong.)
__________________
Me ayuda si corrige mis errores. Gracias.
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old September 15, 2009, 08:58 PM
ookami's Avatar
ookami ookami is offline
Sapphire
 
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Buenos Aires
Posts: 1,283
Native Language: Español(Argentina)
ookami is on a distinguished road
escuincle creo que es como se escribe. No la conocía.
Hay muchas formas más(rae): pibe, pebete, ..., pero me parecen muy vulgares y típicamente Argentinas y Uruguayas por lo que no serían útiles.
(no pongo más ejemplos que se me ocurren y son aceptados por la rae porque ya sería dar un mal ejemplo del uso del español)
__________________
Please, don't hesitate to correct my English.
'Time is a sort of river of passing events, and strong is its current; no sooner is a thing brought to sight than it is swept by and another takes its place, and this too will be swept away.' M.A.
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old September 16, 2009, 10:59 AM
Jessica's Avatar
Jessica Jessica is offline
...
 
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: PA
Posts: 8,187
Native Language: English, Chinese
Jessica is on a distinguished road
ok guys thanks
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old September 16, 2009, 11:00 AM
AngelicaDeAlquezar's Avatar
AngelicaDeAlquezar AngelicaDeAlquezar is offline
Obsidiana
 
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Mexico City
Posts: 9,038
Native Language: Mexican Spanish
AngelicaDeAlquezar is on a distinguished road
@jchen: you can use both of them the same way, although in some countries "chico(a)" is rather used for a child, and in that case it's a synonym of "niño(a)".


Para los niños: en México se usa "escuincle(a)", "chamaco(a)", "mocoso(a)". Éstas tres formas pueden ser peyorativas, pero con frecuencia son más bien términos afectivos.
También se dice "chavo(a)", que también se usa para jóvenes, como "muchacho(a)".

"Nene(a)" se usa más para bebés o niños muy pequeños.
__________________
Ain't it wonderful to be alive when the Rock'n'Roll plays...
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old September 17, 2009, 06:52 PM
Jessica's Avatar
Jessica Jessica is offline
...
 
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: PA
Posts: 8,187
Native Language: English, Chinese
Jessica is on a distinguished road
thanks everyone
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old September 19, 2009, 05:02 PM
ROBINDESBOIS's Avatar
ROBINDESBOIS ROBINDESBOIS is offline
Diamond
 
Join Date: Jun 2009
Posts: 4,040
ROBINDESBOIS is on a distinguished road
Chico is more colloquial than muchacho.
Reply With Quote
Reply

Tags
chica, chico, escuincle, joven, mozalbete, muchacha, muchacho

 

Link to this thread
URL: 
HTML Link: 
BB Code: 
Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Site Rules

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Ellos compraban una casa chica con jardín y fondo cmon Translations 13 December 15, 2008 09:14 PM


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 07:22 AM.

Forum powered by vBulletin® Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.

X