If I don't know the gender

[Sandy]

Some Spanish nouns that refer to people or animals can have either a
masculine or feminine gender. For example el gato or la gata depending
on whether the cat is male or female.

What if I don't know the gender?

Is it acceptable to say "el chico" to refer to a child where I do not
know the gender?

[Espanuelo]

Post by Sandy
Some Spanish nouns that refer to people or animals can have either a
masculine or feminine gender. For example el gato or la gata depending
on whether the cat is male or female.
What if I don't know the gender?
Is it acceptable to say "el chico" to refer to a child where I do not
know the gender?

The child: el niño, el chico.
The girl: la niña, la chica.
The children: los niños, los chicos.