hola cariño
/ola kaɾiɲo/from spelling rules
In Spanish, the phrase "hey baby" is translated as hola cariño.
hola cariño is an affectionate greeting used for a romantic partner or a loved one. While it is a common way to address someone you care about, it carries a tone more equivalent to "hello dear" rather than the more slangy or highly sexualized connotations often associated with the English "hey baby".
What does it mean word for word?
The word cariño literally means affection or care, but it is used as a noun here to mean "dear" or "darling".
Which one should you use?
A common alternative for this affectionate greeting is hola mi amor, which translates to "hello my love".
Did you know?
- The greeting hola might be related to the Old High German word holā, which was used specifically to hail a ferryman.
- In some Spanish-speaking regions, calling a stranger cariño is a common way for shopkeepers or waiters to be friendly, similar to 'honey' or 'dear' in the Southern US.
- Depending on the region, the word cariño can be used by a person regardless of the gender of the person they are addressing.
Examples in context
- ¡Hola, cariño!Hi, sweetheart!
- ¡Ey, guapa!Hey, beautiful!
- ¡Oye, mi vida!Hey, my love!
- ¡Ey, nena!Hey, babe!
- Hola cariño, ¿cómo estás?Hey baby, how are you?
- Hola cariño, te extrañé mucho.Hey baby, I missed you a lot.
- ¡Hola cariño! ¿Qué tal tu día?Hey baby! How was your day?
Example conversation
Daniel arrives home and greets Lucía in the living room.
- DanielHola cariño, ya estoy en casa.Hey baby, I'm home now.
- LucíaHola, qué bueno que llegaste.Hi, I'm glad you arrived.
- DanielTe traje un pequeño detalle.I brought you a little something.
- Lucía¡Eres muy amable, gracias!You are very kind, thank you!
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.
