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cariño

ka-REEN-yokaˈɾiɲo

“cariño” means “affection” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:

affection

Also: tenderness, fondness, care
NounmA2
A depiction of deep affection shown through a gentle hug between a child and an elderly person.

📝 In Action

Le tengo mucho cariño a mi abuela.

A2

I have a lot of affection for my grandmother.

Trata a los animales con cariño.

B1

He/She treats animals with tenderness.

Hizo el regalo con mucho cariño.

B1

She made the gift with a lot of care and love.

Word Connections

Synonyms

Antonyms

Common Collocations

  • tener cariño a alguien – to be fond of someone
  • coger cariño a alguien – to grow fond of someone
  • con cariño – with affection / lovingly

darling

Also: sweetheart, honey
mA1informal
Spain
A visual representation of someone affectionately addressing another person using a loving term of endearment.

📝 In Action

Hola, cariño, ¿cómo estás?

A1

Hi, darling, how are you?

Cariño, ¿me pasas la sal?

A1

Honey, can you pass me the salt?

No te preocupes, cariño, todo saldrá bien.

A2

Don't worry, sweetheart, everything will be fine.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • mi amor (my love)
  • cielo (darling (literally 'sky/heaven'))
  • corazón (sweetheart (literally 'heart'))

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: cariño

Question 1 of 1

Which sentence uses 'cariño' to mean the feeling of 'affection'?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
cariñoso/a(affectionate, loving) — Adjective
acariciar(to caress, to stroke) — Verb
encariñarse (con)(to grow fond (of)) — Verb
🎵 Rhymes▼
niñoguiñoaliño
📚 Etymology▼

Comes from the Latin word `carere`, which meant 'to lack' or 'to miss'. The idea evolved into the special feeling you have for someone you would miss dearly if they were gone—affection.

First recorded: 15th century

Cognates (Related words)

Portuguese: carinhoGalician: cariño

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Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use 'cariño' with my boss or a stranger?

It's best not to. 'Cariño' is an informal word for people you know well, like family, partners, or close friends. Using it in a formal or professional setting would sound too familiar and possibly disrespectful.

Is there a female version, like 'cariña'?

No, the word is always 'cariño' when used as a nickname, even when you're talking to a woman. The adjective form changes ('un hombre cariñoso', 'una mujer cariñosa'), but the term of endearment itself does not.