Spanish vocabulary · Beginner
How to Say Baby in Spanish: Bebé
Bebé · noun (masculine, but used for all genders) · beh-BEH
Bebé is the most widely understood Spanish word for baby. Grammatically masculine regardless of the child's sex, it takes the article el. Regional variants like guagua in the Andes or nene/nena in Argentina add local flavor.
beh-BEH
El bebé se durmió en mis brazos.
The baby fell asleep in my arms.
Baby in Spanish: Quick Reference
Below are the most common Spanish words for baby, with pronunciation and regional usage notes.
| Spanish | English | Pronunciation | Region / Register |
|---|---|---|---|
| bebé | baby | beh-BEH | Default, widely understood |
| nene/nena | baby | Argentina (informal) | |
| guagua | baby | Andes / Chile | |
| criatura | baby | universal (infant, creature) |
How Native Speakers Use Bebé
Real example sentences across three contexts you'll actually run into.
Talking about a newborn
El bebé nació ayer y pesa tres kilos.
The baby was born yesterday and weighs three kilos.
Describing a newborn using the standard term bebé.
Argentine variant
¡Qué lindo nene! Se parece a su mamá.
What a cute baby! He looks like his mom.
In Argentina, nene (boy) and nena (girl) are common affectionate terms for young children.
Andean variant
La guagua está llorando, hay que darle de comer.
The baby is crying, we need to feed her.
In Chile, Bolivia, and parts of Peru, guagua is the everyday word for baby.
Avoid These Mistakes When Using Bebé
Making bebé feminine for a girl
Incorrect: La bebé está dormida.
Correct: El bebé está dormido.
Bebé is grammatically masculine. Even for a girl baby, traditional usage keeps el bebé. Some speakers do use la bebé colloquially, but el bebé remains the standard form.
Confusing guagua with bus
Incorrect: Voy a tomar la guagua al centro. (in Chile, meaning baby)
Correct: Context matters: in Cuba and the Canary Islands, guagua means bus, while in Chile and the Andes it means baby.
Guagua has completely different meanings depending on the region. Always consider the local context.
Lock in Baby Vocabulary with the Parrot Method
Why word lists alone don't stick
Memorizing a translation feels productive, but most learners forget 70% of what they studied within 48 hours. Vocabulary needs spaced repetition AND real-world exposure to transfer to long-term memory.
See Bebé used by native speakers
Parrot's short-form videos feature native speakers using bebé in real situations. Context-based exposure beats flashcards, you hear El bebé se durmió en mis brazos. while watching someone live the moment, connecting meaning, sound, and rhythm at once.
Save, review, repeat, stay consistent
Tap any word to save it. Parrot's spaced-repetition system surfaces it right before you'd forget, no manual flashcard creation. The watch, parrot back, save, review cycle turns recognition into fluency at 2.7x the speed of traditional study.
Common Questions About Baby in Spanish
- Is bebé always masculine in Spanish?
- Traditionally yes—el bebé is the standard form regardless of the child's sex. However, some modern speakers and style guides accept la bebé when referring to a girl. The masculine form remains dominant in formal writing.
- What does guagua mean in Spanish?
- Guagua is one of Spanish's most region-dependent words. In Chile, Bolivia, Ecuador, and Peru, it means baby (from Quechua). In Cuba and the Canary Islands, guagua means bus—an entirely different etymology. Context and geography always clarify which meaning applies.
- How do you say babysitter in Spanish?
- The most common term is niñera (feminine) or niñero (masculine). In some countries you may also hear canguro (Spain) or babysitter used as a loanword.