Querido
friends and family
To open a letter in Spanish, write Querido before a man's name and Querida before a woman's name, as in Querida Ana. For formal letters use Estimado or Estimada.
Meaning: greeting word at the start of a letter (adjective)
Ways to say it
| Spanish | Note |
|---|---|
| Querido | friends and family |
| Estimado | formal |
| Querida | friends and family |
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
Estimado señor López fits a business letter. Querido Pablo fits a friend or relative. After the name, a comma or a colon both appear.
How does it change in a sentence?
The word agrees with the person you write to. Use Queridos or Estimados for a group.
Did you know?
- Querido comes from the verb querer, "to love" or "to want".
Examples in context
- Querida Ana, te escribo desde Madrid.Dear Ana, I am writing to you from Madrid.
- Querido abuelo, gracias por tu carta.Dear grandfather, thank you for your letter.
- Estimada señora Pérez:Dear Mrs. Pérez:
Example conversation
Lucía asks her father Jorge how to start a letter to her grandmother.
- LucíaPapá, ¿cómo empiezo la carta?Dad, how do I start the letter?
- JorgeEscribe «Querida abuela».Write "Dear grandmother".
- Lucía¿Y para el director de la escuela?And for the school principal?
- JorgeAhí pon «Estimado director».There put "Dear principal".
