Mozo vs muchacho

[Caballero]

¿Hay una diferencia entre estas palabras?

[chileno]

Originally Posted by Caballero

¿Hay una diferencia entre estas palabras?

Depende del contexto, porque también mozo pudiera significar "waiter"

[Luna Azul]

Sí, hay mucha diferencia. No sé si en todos los países. "Mozo" es más usado, me parece, en España que en América Latina. Se usa mucho en las Zarzuelas y en literatura.

Puede querer decir "waiter" en algunos países y también puede ser "amante" en otros.

"Mozo" y "moza" son palabras que yo, personalmente, no uso jamás. Digo "muchacho/a" o "chico/a"

[aleCcowaN]

In Argentina mozo is both waiter and a dated term for colloquial country language in the Pampas for naming teenagers and people in their early 20's living under paternal authority. The only use here common to the country and the city that is not a dated one is in the phrase "buen mozo" -handsome manly man, young or mid-age-

[AngelicaDeAlquezar]

The use of "mozo"/"moza" meaning "boy"/"girl" is archaic in Mexico. Here it's used for a servant, so it's considered a pejorative word. "Chico(a)" or "muchacho(a)" are the words we use instead.

[Luna Azul]

I think "Buen mozo" meaning "handsome guy" is said everywhere.

There's also another expression that's still used, especially (of course!!) by older people:

"En mis años mozos....." = "when I was young"

[AngelicaDeAlquezar]

"Buen mozo" is of course well understood here, but nobody would say it seriously. We'd say "guapo", "de buen ver"...
As for "años mozos", it's also said jokingly. The usual expression is "cuando era (más) joven".

[chileno]

I guess "mozalbete" y "mozuelo" have to be taken in account, although they are not used anymore.

[poli]

..., and I have heard the term mocedad.

[Luna Azul]

Originally Posted by poli

..., and I have heard the term mocedad.

"Mocedad" is the same as "juventud". It's very rarely used. These are words that are more used in literature. We never use them in everyday language, but everybody understands them.