mi amor
/mi amoɾ/from spelling rules
The English phrase "my love" is translated into Spanish as mi amor.
Mi amor can function in two ways: as a noun phrase meaning the feeling of love, or as a term of endearment used when addressing someone directly. Other informal terms of endearment include mi amorcito (my little love), cariño mío (my darling or my dear) and mi vida (my life).
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of the possessive adjective mi (my) and the noun amor (love).
Which one should you use?
When used as a term of endearment, mi amor is often used by people who are not in a romantic relationship, such as a parent addressing a child or between close friends, depending on the region.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Mexico or Argentina, the phrase mi cielo is used to express affection. In Spain, the phrase tesoro mío is used to express love and endearment.
How does it change in a sentence?
To refer to multiple people as "my loves", the phrase becomes mis amores.
How do you pronounce it?
/mi amoɾ/
Did you know?
- While 'my love' sounds very romantic in English, calling a waiter or a shopkeeper mi amor in many Latin American countries is a common, non-romantic way to show friendliness.
- In certain contexts, mi amor can be used sarcastically or condescendingly during an argument, much like the English word 'honey' or 'sweetie'.
- The English word 'amorous' shares the same ancient root as amor, tracing back to the Proto-Indo-European root for 'love'.
Examples in context
- Mi amor es sincero.My love is true.Tatoeba #7715905 by arh, translation #11650284 by ddnktr
- Mi amor, ¿por qué lloras?Why are you crying, my love?Tatoeba #2143048 by Shishir, translation #7634511 by kaesekaiser
- Mi amor por ti es difícil de explicar.My love for you is hard to explain.Tatoeba #2726883 by cueyayotl, translation #2726848 by Reiha
- Mi amor, eres la persona más importante en mi vidaMy love, you're the most important person in my life
- Hola, mi amorcito, ¿cómo ha sido tu día?Hello, my love, how has your day been?
- Te echo de menos, cariño míoI miss you, my darling
- Eres muy especial para mí, mi vidaYou're very special to me, my love
- Hola, mi cielo, ¿cómo estás?Hello, my love, how are you?
- Gracias por estar siempre a mi lado, tesoro míoThank you for always being by my side, my love
- 21 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Javier is saying goodbye to Lucía before leaving for work.
- JavierBuenos días, mi amor.Good morning, my love.
- LucíaQue tengas un buen día, Javier.Have a good day, Javier.
- JavierTe veré más tarde, mi amor.I will see you later, my love.
- LucíaHasta luego, te quiero.See you later, I love you.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries amor, mi, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
