Mi Amor Meaning (6 Ways To Say 'My Love' In Spanish)

If you have a Spanish-speaking partner, then an appropriate thing to call them is “my love”. ❤️

There are a few ways you can do this in Spanish (with some related alternatives).

In this list, I’ve outlined them for you.

‘My love’ in Spanish

Here’s a quick reference table for the impatient.

Important note: some of these only have close nuances to ‘my love’.

I’ll expand on each of these below.

Mi amor

Meaning: This is literally “my love” in English.

Grammar: The noun amor is masculine in Spanish, but it can be used to address both genders.

Etymology: Amor comes from the Latin word amor which means love.

Usage: Mi amor is used in a wide variety of contexts, much like “my love” in English. It’s appropriate in almost any intimate context - romantic or familial.

Mi querido / Mi querida

Meaning: This translates to “my darling” or “my dear” in English.

Grammar: Querido (dear) is an adjective and changes based on the gender of the person being addressed. So, use mi querido for men and mi querida for women.

Etymology: Querido comes from the verb querer which means ‘to love’ or ‘to want’.

Usage: These phrases are often used to begin or end sentences in loving, intimate contexts, similar to “my dear” in English.

Mi corazón

Meaning: “My heart” in English. This is another common term of endearment in Spanish.

Grammar: Corazón is a masculine noun in Spanish, hence why mi is used.

Etymology: Corazón comes from the Latin word cor which means “heart”.

Usage: Used to express profound love or affection for someone. It signifies that the person holds a special place in your heart.

Mi ángel

Meaning: This term means “my angel”. Use this to convey that a person you love is good, pure, or heavenly.

Grammar: The noun ángel is masculine, so mi is used.

Etymology: Ángel comes from the Latin angelus which is derived from the Greek ἄγγελος (ángelos) meaning “messenger”.

Usage: Can be used metaphorically in many intimate contexts. It indicates that the person is like an angel - someone who’s pure, perfect, or heavenly.

Mi cariño

Meaning: Translates to “my dear” or “my darling” in English. Note that cariño and querido can both be translated as “dear” or “darling” in English. However, they carry different connotations and are used in different contexts. Cariño comes from the verb acariñar, which means “to caress” or “cuddle”, suggesting a sense of physical affection and tenderness. It’s also more informal than querido.

Grammar: Cariño is a masculine noun in Spanish, so mi is used regardless of the gender of the person being addressed.

Etymology: Comes from the verb acariñar, which means to caress or to cuddle, and has taken on a broader meaning of affection over time.

Usage: This term is frequently used in both casual and intimate contexts. It’s a softer, more casual term of endearment.

Mi vida

Meaning: This one means “my life”. Use it to express how integral a person is to your life.

Grammar: Vida is a feminine noun in Spanish.

Etymology: Vida comes from the Latin word of the same spelling and meaning.

Usage: Used to express deep affection and attachment, suggesting that the person is as crucial to the speaker as their own life.

Conclusion

This is only a tiny handful of the romantic terms of endearment you’ll encounter in Spanish. It’s a great language for romantics. 😊

They’re important terms that you’ll hear (and probably use) a lot.

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