querido diario
/keɾido djaɾjo/from spelling rules
The English phrase "dear diary" is translated into Spanish as querido diario.
querido diario is the traditional first line used when starting a diary entry.
Meaning: traditional first line in a diary entry (phrase)
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of the past participle querido (loved/dear) and the masculine noun diario (diary).
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Mexico, it is common to use the term Querido Diario: to address your diary.
How do you pronounce it?
/keɾido djaɾjo/
Did you know?
- The word diario is used not only for a personal journal but also to mean 'the daily newspaper' in Spanish.
- The word diario shares the same Latin root as the English 'diary', both coming from 'diarium', which originally referred to a daily allowance or a record of daily expenses.
- While English speakers use 'dear' to show affection, the Spanish querido is the past participle of 'to want' or 'to love'. In many contexts, using querido can imply a much deeper, more intense emotional attachment than the English 'dear' does.
Examples in context
- Querido diario, hoy ha sido un día increíble.Dear diary, today has been an amazing day.
- Querido diario, no puedo creer lo que pasó.Dear diary, I can't believe what happened.
- Escribo esto porque, querido diario, necesito desahogarme.I am writing this because, dear diary, I need to vent.
Example conversation
Javier and Sofía are talking about their childhood habits.
- JavierYo siempre escribía querido diario en mis notas.I always wrote dear diary in my notes.
- SofíaYo también lo hacía cuando era niña.I did that too when I was a girl.
- JavierEra la única forma de desahogarme.It was the only way to vent.
- SofíaEs verdad, era como hablar con un amigo.That's true, it was like talking to a friend.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries diario, querido, CC BY-SA 4.0.
