querido
/keˈɾido/
The English word 'dear' can be translated into Spanish 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 term querido is used to express affection toward someone. You can use Querido or Querida followed by a person's name to begin a letter or email to someone with whom you have a friendly or close relationship.
What does it mean word for word?
The word querido is the past participle of the verb querer (to love or want), so it literally means 'loved'.
Which one should you use?
While querido means 'dear' in the sense of affection, caro means 'dear' in the sense of being expensive.
How does it change in a sentence?
The adjective must agree in gender with the noun it modifies. Use querida for feminine nouns, queridos for masculine plural nouns or mixed-gender groups and queridas for feminine plural nouns.
How do you pronounce it?
/keˈɾido/
Did you know?
- In many Spanish-speaking cultures, using querido in a business email might actually feel too intimate or even strange, as it implies a level of affection that is not standard for professional settings.
- The English word 'cherish' and the Spanish word caro share the same Latin ancestor, meaning that they both originally described something highly valued or precious.
- Spanish has a separate, stronger word for love, amar, but querido remains the standard for 'dear' because amado often sounds too poetic or dramatic for daily use.
Examples in context
- Mi querido gatito desapareció hace una semana.My dear little cat disappeared a week ago.This example shows how to use querido to describe a 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 example demonstrates how to use querido when addressing 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.This example uses querido to describe a pet that has been missing.Tatoeba #2113033 by marcelostockle, translation #250424 by shekitten
- 9 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Alejandro is writing a letter to Lucía.
- AlejandroQuerido amigo, te extraño mucho.Dear friend, I miss you very much.
- LucíaYo también te extraño, Alejandro.I miss you too, Alejandro.
- AlejandroEres mi querido compañero de viaje.You are my dear travel companion.
- LucíaGracias por tus palabras.Thank you for your words.
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.
