cara
/ˈka.ra/
The English phrase 'dear' or 'darling' can be translated into Italian as cara.
cara is used as an adjective to describe someone who is loved or cherished. It frequently serves as a salutation in letters or emails addressed to a female friend or a loved one, such as in the format Cara [Name].
Which one should you use?
While cara is used for affection or to denote high cost for feminine nouns, if you wish to express a more formal sense of being 'esteemed' or 'respected', you should use stimata.
How does it change in a sentence?
The form of the word must match the gender and number of the person or noun being described. Use caro for a male person or a masculine noun, care for a group of females or feminine plural nouns and cari for a group of males or a mixed-gender group.
How do you pronounce it?
The word is pronounced /ˈka.ra/ and has 2 syllables. The stress is on the 1st syllable.
Did you know?
- The word cara descends from the Latin carus, which also meant both 'dear' and 'costly'. This ancient double meaning is why the word still describes both affection and high prices in modern Italian.
- In Italian, calling someone cara or caro can be used sarcastically to signal condescension or annoyance, similar to using 'my dear' in a confrontational English argument.
- While cara is used for loved ones, calling a stranger cara in a shop or cafe can be seen as overly familiar or an attempt to be 'sweet' to get a better price.
Examples in context
- Sei una cara amica per me.You are a dear friend to me.
- È una cara persona, puoi fidarti.She is a dear person, you can trust her.
- Spero di rivedere presto la mia cara mamma.I hope to see my dear mother again soon.
Example conversation
Matteo is giving Martina a small gift.
- MatteoQuesto regalo è per te, cara Martina.This gift is for you, dear Martina.
- MartinaGrazie mille, Matteo! Sei gentilissimo.Thank you so much, Matteo! You are very kind.
- MatteoLo volevo fare perché sei una persona cara.I wanted to do it because you are a dear person.
- MartinaAnche tu sei molto caro per me.You are also very dear to me.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry cara, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
