chaval

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kid, young person, lad, girl
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/t͡ʃaˈbal/
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An informal Spanish way to refer to a child or young person.

Examples

  • Es una chavala muy responsable para su edad.
    She is a very responsible young woman for her age.
  • Oye, chaval, ¿puedes ayudarme con esta caja?
    Hey, lad, can you help me with this box?
  • Ese chaval juega al fútbol todas las tardes.
    That kid plays football every afternoon.
  • Cuando era chaval, pasaba los veranos en el pueblo.
    When I was a kid, I spent the summers in the village.
  • La chavala nueva de clase se llama Lucía.
    The new girl in the class is called Lucía.

Similar words

crío
niño
joven
chico
muchacho
mozo

Meanings

Child or young person in Spain

noun
everyday
informal
In informal Spanish from Spain, a child, teenager, or young adult of any gender, sometimes also used as a friendly form of address.

Examples

  • Ese chaval juega al fútbol todas las tardes.
    That kid plays football every afternoon.
  • La chavala nueva de clase se llama Lucía.
    The new girl in the class is called Lucía.
  • Cuando era chaval, pasaba los veranos en el pueblo.
    When I was a kid, I spent the summers in the village.
  • Los chavales esperaban el autobús delante del instituto.
    The young people were waiting for the bus outside the secondary school.
  • Oye, chaval, ¿puedes ayudarme con esta caja?
    Hey, lad, can you help me with this box?
  • Es una chavala muy responsable para su edad.
    She is a very responsible young woman for her age.

Similar words

Etymology

From Caló chavale, the plural vocative of chavó, meaning 'boy' or 'young man', ultimately related to Romani ćhavo.

FAQ

What does chaval mean?

In informal Spanish from Spain, chaval means a child, teenager, or young person.

Is chaval used throughout the Spanish-speaking world?

It is especially characteristic of Spain. Other regions more often use words such as chico, muchacho, or chavo.

What is the feminine form of chaval?

The feminine form is chavala.

What is the plural of chaval?

The masculine or mixed plural is chavales, while the feminine plural is chavalas.

Is chaval rude?

Normally it is informal rather than rude, though tone and context can make any form of address sound dismissive.

Where does chaval come from?

It entered Spanish through Caló chavale, related to a Romani word for a boy or young man.

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