Estimado
formal, masculine
A formal Spanish letter opens with Estimado for a man and Estimada for a woman. For family and friends, Querido and Querida are the warm choices.
Meaning: dear, as a letter greeting (adjective)
Ways to say it
| Spanish | Note |
|---|---|
| Estimado | formal, masculine |
| Estimada | formal, feminine |
| Querido | personal, masculine |
| Querida | personal, feminine |
Write Estimado señor López or Estimada señora Gómez. Put a comma or a colon after the name. In Latin America a colon is common after the name in formal letters.
Which one should you use?
Estimado is respectful and used in business. Querido means "beloved" and fits a friend or relative. For a group, Estimados señores and Queridos amigos are the plurals.
How does it change in a sentence?
The word agrees with the person you write to, so a letter to a woman starts with Querida Ana and to a man with Querido Pedro.
Did you know?
- A very formal Spanish opening is Muy señor mío, literally "very my sir", which is now old fashioned.
Examples in context
- Estimado señor Ruiz:Dear Mr. Ruiz,
- Estimada doctora Vega:Dear Dr. Vega,
- Querida abuela, te escribo desde Lima.Dear grandmother, I am writing to you from Lima.
Example conversation
Teresa helps her son Hugo start a letter to his grandmother.
- Hugo¿Cómo empiezo la carta?How do I start the letter?
- TeresaPon Querida abuela, con coma.Write Dear grandmother, with a comma.
- HugoY para el director, Estimado señor, ¿verdad?And for the principal, Dear sir, right?
