mami
to a woman, casual, Puerto Rico
In Puerto Rico people say mami to a woman and papi to a man for "babe", and bebé works for either.
Meaning: affectionate or flirty way to address a partner (noun)
Ways to say it
| Spanish | Note |
|---|---|
| mami | to a woman, casual, Puerto Rico |
| bebé | neutral |
| papi | to a man, casual, Puerto Rico |
Mami and papi are warm between partners and flirty between friends. Between strangers they can sound too forward.
How does it change in a sentence?
Choose the word by the gender of the person you are talking to, not your own.
Did you know?
- Mami and papi are used across the Caribbean as everyday terms of address, often with people who are not family.
Examples in context
- Hola, mami, ¿cómo estás?Hi babe, how are you?
- Te extraño, papi.I miss you, babe.
- Bebé, ya llegué.Babe, I have arrived.
Example conversation
Carla calls her boyfriend Javier on her way home from work.
- CarlaHola, papi, ya salgo del trabajo.Hi babe, I am leaving work now.
- JavierDale, mami. Te espero con la cena.Okay, babe. I will wait for you with dinner.
- CarlaQué rico, bebé. Llego en veinte minutos.How nice, babe. I will be there in twenty minutes.
