Formal:
* Joven: This translates to "young man" and is a more formal and respectful way to refer to a male.
* Señor: This means "mister" or "sir" and is used to address a man politely.
Informal:
* Chaval: This is a more casual and playful term for "guy" or "kid."
* Muchacho: This means "boy" and is a more neutral term.
* Tío: This translates to "uncle" but can be used as a friendly way to refer to a male friend or acquaintance.
* Amigo: This means "friend" and can be used to refer to a male friend.
* Caballero: This means "gentleman" and is a formal and respectful term.
Other options:
* Sujeto: This means "subject" and can be used to refer to a person, although it sounds more impersonal.
* Individuo: This means "individual" and is a more formal and neutral term.
The best option depends on the specific situation and your relationship with the person you are referring to.
For example:
* "Hey, chico, ¿qué tal?" (Hey, boy, how are you?) could be replaced with "Hey, amigo, ¿qué tal?" (Hey, friend, how are you?)
* "El chico es muy inteligente." (The boy is very intelligent.) could be replaced with "El joven es muy inteligente." (The young man is very intelligent.)
Remember to consider the context and your relationship with the person when choosing the best synonym for "chico."