hola, cariño
/ˈola kaˈɾiɲo/word by word
The English phrase 'hello, sweetheart' is translated into Spanish as hola, cariño.
hola, cariño is an affectionate greeting used for a romantic partner or a loved one. It is a more intimate and affectionate expression than a standard Hola or Hola, amigo.
What does it mean word for word?
The word cariño literally means 'affection', 'care' or 'dear' and is used as a term of endearment similar to 'sweetheart' or 'darling'.
Which one should you use?
While hola, cariño means 'hello, sweetheart', you may also encounter other informal greetings such as Hola, mi amor (hello, my love) or ¡Hey, cielo! (hey, sweetheart).
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Cuban Spanish, the affectionate greeting Hola, mi reina is used to mean 'hello, my queen'.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈola kaˈɾiɲo/
Did you know?
- The greeting hola may have originated from the Old High German word holā, which was used specifically to hail ferrymen to fetch a boat.
- In many Spanish-speaking cultures, using 'sweetheart' terms like cariño or mi amor is not strictly reserved for romantic partners. It is very common for older people, such as shopkeepers or waiters, to address customers with these affectionate terms to show warmth.
- The term cielo, which is often used as a synonym for 'sweetheart' in English, literally translates to 'sky' or 'heaven' in Spanish. Calling someone mi cielo is like calling them your 'heaven' or 'my sky'.
Examples in context
- ¡Hola, cariño! Dormí como un bebé gracias a ti.Hello, sweetheart! I slept like a baby, thanks to you.
- ¡Hey, cielo! ¿Cómo estás?Hey, sweetheart! How are you?
- ¡Hola, mi amor! Todo bien, gracias. ¿Y tú?Hello, my love! Everything's good, thanks. And you?
- Hola, cariño, ¿cómo estás?Hello, sweetheart, how are you?
- Hola, cariño, ¿cómo estuvo tu día?Hello, sweetheart, how was your day?
- ¡Hola, cariño! Te extrañé mucho.Hello, sweetheart! I missed you a lot.
- Hola, cariño, ya llegué a casa.Hello, sweetheart, I'm home now.
Example conversation
Elena greets Daniel when he enters the room.
- ElenaHola, cariño, ¿qué haces?Hello, sweetheart, what are you doing?
- DanielEstoy cocinando la cena, Elena.I am cooking dinner, Elena.
- ElenaHuele muy bien, gracias.It smells very good, thank you.
- DanielDe nada, mi amor.You're welcome, my love.
Sources
- IPA marked “word by word” joins the Wiktionary pronunciations of each word (hola, cariño) and can differ in connected speech.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries cariño, hola, CC BY-SA 4.0.
