Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| afecto | /aˈfeɡto/ | masculine |
| cariño | /kaˈɾiɲo/ | masculine |
| apego | /aˈpeɡo/ | masculine |
| afección | /afeɡˈθjon/ /afeɡˈsjon/ |
feminine |
Which one should you use?
apego refers to a sense of attachment or bond, often used in psychological or developmental contexts. afecto is more formal and abstract than cariño and is often used in written or more serious contexts.
Is it said differently in some regions?
Various regional terms of endearment exist: in Argentina, mi vida is commonly used as an affectionate term between friends and partners. In Mexico, mi cielo is a popular way to express affection. And in Colombia, both mi reina and mi corazón are commonly used to express affection.
How do you pronounce it?
/aˈfeɡto/
What mistakes should you avoid?
Be careful not to use afección when you mean a feeling of love. It actually refers to a medical condition or ailment.
When do people say it?
In informal contexts, cariño can be used as a term of endearment among friends or family members. For romantic partners, you might hear Mi amor (my love) or, specifically in Spain, the informal term Churri (sweetie).
Did you know?
- The word afición is a linguistic 'cousin' to afección, though while one refers to a medical condition, the other refers to a hobby or interest.
- In some Spanish-speaking cultures, calling a friend mi vida or 'my life' is a common way to show platonic affection without implying romantic love.
- Using mi reina or 'my queen' to express affection is a common cultural practice in Colombia, even in casual or non-romantic settings.
Examples in context
- Tiene un profundo afecto por su hijo.He has a deep affection for his son.This sentence demonstrates the use of afecto to show a deep feeling for a person.Tatoeba #1492992 by hayastan, translation #300987 by CM
- Tom siente un profundo cariño por Mary.Tom has a deep affection for Mary.This sentence shows how cariño is used to express affection for someone.Tatoeba #1625004 by teskmon, translation #1028768 by CK
- Ella siente un gran cariño por sus padres.She has a great affection for her parents.This sentence illustrates the use of cariño when describing affection for parents.Tatoeba #1630656 by teskmon, translation #317433 by CM
- Mi amor, te extrañoMy love, I miss you
- Buenos días, cariñoGood morning, darling
- ¡Hola, mi amor!Hi, my love!
- Gracias, cariñoThanks, darling
- Querida abuelaDear grandma
- Buenos días, churriGood morning, sweetie
- 7 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
María and Daniel are talking about their childhood dog.
- MaríaTengo mucho afecto por mi perro viejo.I have a lot of affection for my old dog.
- DanielSe nota que lo quieres mucho, María.It's obvious that you love him very much, María.
- MaríaÉl siempre me mostró mucho afecto.He always showed me a lot of affection.
- DanielLos animales son muy cariñosos.Animals are very affectionate.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “affection” translations and entries afecto, cariño, apego, afección, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries afección, afecto, apego, cariño, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
