cariño
affectionate
The most common word for "sweetheart" to a woman is cariño. Other options are mi cielo, mi vida and corazón, and all of them are used for women and men.
Meaning: term of endearment for a woman (noun)
Ways to say it
| Spanish | Note |
|---|---|
| cariño | affectionate |
| Mi cielo | affectionate |
| Mi vida | affectionate |
| Corazón | affectionate |
Partners use these words, and so do parents with daughters and grandparents with grandchildren. Corazón is literally "heart".
Is it said differently in some regions?
Cariño is especially common in Spain, while in Mexico and other Latin American countries mi amor and mi vida are everywhere.
How does it change in a sentence?
These nouns keep their form for a woman. If you add an adjective, it takes the feminine ending, as in mi querida niña.
Did you know?
- Cielo means "sky" or "heaven", and calling someone mi cielo is a very old way of saying they are precious.
Examples in context
- Hola, cariño.Hello, sweetheart.
- Gracias, mi cielo.Thank you, my sweet.
- Ven, corazón, te ayudo.Come, sweetheart, I will help you.
Example conversation
Rosa speaks to her daughter Elena before school.
- RosaCariño, ya es hora de ir al colegio.Sweetheart, it is time to go to school.
- ElenaYa voy, mamá.I am coming, mom.
- RosaBuen día, mi cielo.Have a good day, my sweet.
