querido
/keˈɾido/
In Spanish, 'dear' can be translated as querido, meaning loved or lovable. Wiktionary also lists caro.
Meaning: loved, lovable (adj)
Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA |
|---|---|
| querido | /keˈɾido/ |
| caro | /ˈkaɾo/ |
The word is used to describe someone or something that is loved or lovable. In epistolary contexts, such as starting a letter or an email, you can use Querido for a man or Querida for a woman to say 'Dear [Name]'.
Which one should you use?
While querido expresses affection, the word caro is used when 'dear' refers to something that is expensive.
How does it change in a sentence?
As an adjective, the form must agree with the noun it modifies. Use querida for feminine singular nouns, querido for masculine singular nouns, queridas for feminine plural nouns and queridos for masculine plural or mixed-gender groups.
How do you pronounce it?
/keˈɾido/
Did you know?
- Using querido in a formal business letter can be seen as overly intimate or inappropriate in many Spanish-speaking cultures.
- The English word 'cherish' and the Spanish word caro share the same Latin ancestor, *cārus', which originally meant 'dear' or 'beloved'.
- The word querido comes from the verb querer, which is the same verb used for 'to want' in many contexts. This creates a subtle nuance where calling someone 'dear' is literally saying they are someone you 'want' or 'desire'.
Examples in context
- Mi querido gatito desapareció hace una semana.My dear little cat disappeared a week ago.This sentence uses querido to describe a beloved pet.Tatoeba #1264505 by Shishir, translation #1152408 by belgavox
- Querido niño, te agradecería que no me tutearas.Dear child, I would prefer that you not address me so informally.This sentence shows how querido is used as a salutation for a child.Tatoeba #10043349 by ecorralest101, translation #10613987 by sangelo
- Mi querido gatito ya lleva desaparecido una semana.My dear little cat has been missing for a week.Tatoeba #2113033 by marcelostockle, translation #250424 by shekitten
- 9 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
María is greeting Alejandro at the airport.
- María¡Hola, mi querido Alejandro!Hello, my dear Alejandro!
- Alejandro¡Hola, María! Te extrañaba mucho.Hello, María! I missed you a lot.
- MaríaYo también, mi querido amigo.Me too, my dear friend.
- AlejandroGracias por venir a buscarme.Thank you for coming to pick me up.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “dear” translations and entries querido, caro, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries caro, querido, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
