chaval/chavala
kid / young person / dude (Spain)
Pronunciation
/tʃaˈβal/ /tʃaˈβa.la/
Cultural Note
From Caló (Romani-influenced Spanish slang), 'chaval' is Spain's informal word for a young person — ranging from a literal kid to anyone younger than the speaker. Parents call their teenage children 'chaval/a,' and a 50-year-old might refer to a 30-year-old as 'chaval.' 'Los chavales' is how older Spaniards refer to young people in general, usually with a mix of affection and mild exasperation. In Madrid especially, it's used as casually as 'tío.' Not used in Latin America, where 'chavo/chava' (Mexico) or 'pibe/piba' (Argentina) fill the same role.
📝 Example Sentences
Los chavales de hoy en día viven pegados al móvil.
Kids today live glued to their phones.
Es un chaval muy majo, te va a caer bien.
He's a really nice kid, you'll like him.