Gracias, mi querido
/ˈɡɾaθjas/ [ˈɡɾa.θjas mi keˈɾido/word by word
The English phrase "thank you, my dear" can be translated into Spanish as Gracias, mi querido.
This expression is a warm way to show gratitude when speaking to someone you love or a very close friend.
Which one should you use?
The form Gracias, mi querido is the masculine version used when addressing a man. If you are addressing a woman, you should use the feminine form Gracias, mi querida.
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase must change its ending to match the gender of the person you are addressing: use querido for a male and querida for a female.
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation of Gracias, mi querido is /ˈɡɾaθjas/ [ˈɡɾa.θjas mi keˈɾido]. The word has 4 syllables and the stress is on the 1st syllable.
Did you know?
- While mi querido is grammatically correct, using it with a stranger or a casual acquaintance in Spain or Latin America might sound overly dramatic or even sarcastic.
- In some Spanish-speaking cultures, mi querida or mi querido can be used by strangers, such as shopkeepers or elderly people, to show warmth rather than romantic love.
- The word querido is the past participle of the verb querer, which means both 'to want' and 'to love'. In this phrase, the word literally means 'the loved one'.
Examples in context
- Gracias, mi querido amigo.Thank you, my dear friend.
- Gracias, mi querido esposo.Thank you, my dear husband.
Example conversation
Sofía gives Alejandro a small gift.
- Alejandro¡Me encanta el regalo!I love the gift!
- SofíaMe alegra que te guste.I'm glad you like it.
- AlejandroGracias, mi querido.Thank you, my dear.
- SofíaDe nada, Sofía.You're welcome, Sofía.
