hola cariño
/ola kaɾiɲo/from spelling rules
The English phrase "hello honey" is translated into Spanish as hola cariño.
Hola cariño is a warm greeting used for intimate or very close relationships, such as between romantic partners or from a parent to a child.
What does it mean word for word?
In the phrase hola cariño, hola means "hello" and cariño means "affection" or "dear/honey".
How does it change in a sentence?
The form hola cariño is grammatically masculine and is used when addressing a male partner or loved one. A common feminine variant for a female partner is hola cariño or hola cariñito/a depending on the specific regional nuance of diminutives.
Did you know?
- In some Spanish-speaking cultures, cariño is used as a general term of endearment not just for partners, but also by shopkeepers or strangers to create a friendly atmosphere.
- Although English uses 'honey' as a term of endearment, using 'miel' in Spanish to greet a lover would sound very strange and literal. Stick to cariño to avoid sounding like you are greeting a jar of syrup.
- The word hola might actually have roots in a command to stop or to fetch something, rather than a simple greeting. It shares an ancestry with the Old High German imperative used to hail a ferryman.
Examples in context
- ¡Hola, cariño! ¿Cómo has pasado el día?Hi, honey! How has your day been?
- ¡Buenas tardes, mi amorcito! Ha sido un día maravilloso gracias a ti.Good afternoon, my little love! It has been a wonderful day thanks to you.
- Hola cariño, ¿cómo estás?Hello honey, how are you?
- ¡Hola cariño! Te extrañé mucho.Hello honey! I missed you a lot.
- Hola cariño, ¿tienes hambre?Hello honey, are you hungry?
Example conversation
Mateo arrives home from work and sees María.
- MaríaHola cariño, bienvenido a casa.Hello honey, welcome home.
- MateoGracias, María. ¿Cómo fue tu día?Thanks, María. How was your day?
- MaríaFue muy bueno, gracias.It was very good, thanks.
- MateoMe alegra mucho escucharlo.I am very happy to hear that.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries cariño, hola, CC BY-SA 4.0.
