cariad
/ˈkarjad/masculine
The Welsh word for darling is cariad.
cariad is a noun used as an affectionate term of address for a person who is very dear to someone.
Meaning: often used as an affectionate term of address: person who is very dear to one (noun)
How does it change in a sentence?
To say 'my darling' or 'my love', you add the possessive pronoun fy before the word.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈkarjad/
Did you know?
- The word cariad is an example of a mutated form in certain sentence structures. Depending on the grammar, the initial letter may change, which is a core feature of Welsh Celtic languages.
- While cariad means 'darling' as a person, it also translates to the abstract concept of 'love' itself. This allows a speaker to use the same word for their partner and the feeling they have for them.
- In Wales, cariad is frequently used as a general term of endearment for children, pets and close friends, not just romantic partners.
Examples in context
- Sut mae ti, fy cariad?How are you, my darling?
Example conversation
Catrin and Owain are in the kitchen making tea.
- CatrinWyt ti wedi gweld fy nills, cariad?Have you seen my keys, darling?
- OwainMaen nhw ar y bwrdd, Catrin.They are on the table, Catrin.
- CatrinDiolch yn fawr!Thank you very much!
- OwainDim problem, cariad.No problem, darling.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “darling” translations and entries cariad, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
