mi tesoro
/mi tesoɾo/from spelling rules
The English phrase "my precious" is translated into Spanish as mi tesoro.
mi tesoro is a term of endearment used to describe someone or something that is deeply loved and cherished. It can be applied to both people and highly valued objects.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of mi (my) and tesoro (treasure).
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Spain, particularly in Andalusia, you may encounter the informal term of endearment mi churri.
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase mi tesoro is grammatically masculine and does not change its form to agree with a feminine person or object.
How do you pronounce it?
/mi tesoɾo/
When do people say it?
Beyond mi tesoro, you might hear informal expressions such as mi cielo (my sky) or mi vida (my life).
Did you know?
- While mi tesoro refers to a treasure, the word tesoro shares an ancient Greek root with the English word 'thesaurus', which originally meant a storehouse of valuable things.
- In some Spanish-speaking contexts, using tesoro for a child is common, but using it for an adult partner can sound more dramatic or old-fashioned than contemporary terms like cariño.
Examples in context
- Eres mi tesoro.You are my precious.
- No te perderé, mi tesoro.I won't lose you, my precious.
Example conversation
Lucía and Mateo are saying goodbye at the airport.
- LucíaTe voy a extrañar mucho, mi tesoro.I am going to miss you a lot, my precious.
- MateoYo también te extrañaré, Lucía.I will miss you too, Lucía.
- LucíaEscribe cuando llegues, mi tesoro.Write when you arrive, my precious.
- MateoLo haré, te quiero.I will, I love you.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries mi, tesoro, CC BY-SA 4.0.
