Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA |
|---|---|
| amado | /aˈmado/ |
| bienamado | /bjenaˈmado/ |
The term is used to describe someone who is much loved. It can function as an adjective or as a noun to refer to someone who is loved, such as an enamorado.
Which one should you use?
While amado is used as an adjective meaning 'beloved', it is also the past participle of the verb amar (to love). The form bienamado is also a way to express the concept.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
When used as a noun to refer to a romantic partner, amado sounds poetic, literary or highly formal compared to everyday terms like novio or esposo. For an informal way to say 'dear', you can use querido/a.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Spain and Latin America, cariño/a is a term used to mean 'darling'. In Latin America and parts of Spain, the phrase mi vida (literally 'my life') is used as a term of endearment.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The adjective amado must agree with the noun it modifies. Use amada for a feminine noun, amados for a masculine or mixed-gender group and amadas for a group of females.
How do you pronounce it?
/aˈmado/
Did you know?
- If you call a romantic partner mi amado or mi amada, you are using a style of speech that is much more intense and dramatic than the common mi amor.
- The word amado is the past participle of the verb amar, which comes from the Latin 'amatus'.
- The term bienamado is rarely used in modern spoken conversation and is now almost exclusively found in religious texts or archaic poetry.
Examples in context
- Augusto es mi hijo más amado.Augusto is my most beloved son.This sentence shows how to describe a beloved son using amado.Tatoeba #868521 by Tux, translation #869224 by ColinG
- Mi amado es mío y yo de mi amado, que pasta entre azucenas. Antes que sople la brisa, antes de que huyan las sombras, vuelve, amado mío, imita a una gacela o a un joven cervatillo por los montes de Béter.My beloved is mine and I of my beloved, who grazes among lilies. Before the breeze blows, before the shadows flee, return, my beloved, imitate a gazelle or a young fawn through the mountains of Bether.This poetic excerpt uses amado to refer to a beloved person.Tatoeba #12399588 by carlosalberto, translation #12400039 by DJ_Saidez
- Querido padre, espero que te encuentres bien.Dear father, I hope you are doing well.
- Hola, amada amiga. ¿Cómo estás?Hello, beloved friend. How are you?
- ¡Hola, cariño! Te eché de menos hoy.Hello, darling! I missed you today.
Example conversation
Alejandro and Lucía are talking about an old family portrait.
- AlejandroEste es mi abuelo amado.This is my beloved grandfather.
- LucíaSe ve que era un hombre muy dulce.It looks like he was a very sweet man.
- AlejandroSí, era el miembro amado de la familia.Yes, he was the beloved member of the family.
- LucíaTienes mucha suerte de haberlo conocido.You are very lucky to have known him.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “beloved” translations and entries amado, bienamado, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries amado, bienamado, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
