Cariño
affectionate, any gender
To call a guy "darling", say Cariño or querido. Cariño stays the same for men and women, while querido ends in -o for a man. It is also called Mi amor and Cielo.
Meaning: term of endearment (phrase)
Ways to say it
| Spanish | Note |
|---|---|
| Cariño | affectionate, any gender |
| Querido | masculine, warm |
| Mi amor | romantic |
| Cielo | affectionate |
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
Querido opens a letter like "Dear", as in Querido Pablo. Spoken, it is warm and a bit old fashioned. Cariño and mi amor are tender and belong with partners and family.
Is it said differently in some regions?
Cariño is especially common in Spain, and mi amor is common across Latin America.
How does it change in a sentence?
Mi amor, cariño and cielo do not change with gender. Querido becomes querida for a woman.
Did you know?
- Spanish letters traditionally open with Querido or Querida followed by the name, much as English letters open with "Dear".
Examples in context
- Hola, cariño, ¿qué tal el día?Hello, darling, how was your day?
- Querido Pablo, gracias por tu carta.Dear Pablo, thank you for your letter.
- Gracias, mi amor.Thank you, my love.
Example conversation
Rosa welcomes her husband Pablo home.
- RosaHola, cariño. ¿Cómo te fue?Hello, darling. How did it go?
- PabloCansado, pero bien.Tired but fine.
- RosaSiéntate, ya está la cena.Sit down, dinner is ready.
