Portuguese

Noun

menina f (plural meninas)

1. girl (female child)

   Doutor, é menino ou menina?‎

   Doctor, is it a boy or a girl?

2. young lady, miss (a title of respect for an unmarried young woman)

   Pode sentar-se aqui, menina.‎

   You may sit here, miss.

3. (pejorative) an effeminate boy
4. (Portugal, euphemistic, chiefly in the plural) prostitute

   Ele tornou-se frequentador assíduo de casas de meninas.‎

   He became a regular frequenter of brothels.

Synonyms

• (girl): garota, guria, rapariga, moça, miúda, cachopa
• (prostitute): rapariga, prostituta

Descendants

• Spanish: menina

Spanish

Etymology

From Portuguese menina ‎(“girl”), from Old Portuguese menynna, from menynno ‎(“boy”).

Noun

menina f ‎(plural meninas)

1. a court maid of honour

Usage notes

• Do not confuse with niña ‎(“girl”).