cariño
/ka-REEN-yo/
affection
This image illustrates cariño as the deep, warm feeling of affection and tenderness one holds for loved ones.
cariño(Noun)
📝 In Action
Le tengo mucho cariño a mi abuela.
A2I have a lot of affection for my grandmother.
Trata a los animales con cariño.
B1He/She treats animals with tenderness.
Hizo el regalo con mucho cariño.
B1She made the gift with a lot of care and love.
💡 Grammar Points
Expressing Fondness with 'Tener'
To say you're fond of someone, you use the phrase tener cariño a someone. It's like saying you 'have affection for' them. For example, 'Le tengo cariño a mi perro' means 'I'm fond of my dog'.
❌ Common Pitfalls
It's a Thing, Not an Action
Mistake: "Yo cariño a mi familia."
Correction: Le tengo cariño a mi familia. `Cariño` is a feeling you *have* for someone (a noun), not an action you *do* to them (a verb).
⭐ Usage Tips
More Than Just Romance
Cariño isn't just for romantic partners. You can feel cariño for family, friends, pets, and even places or things that are special to you.
This visualizes cariño used as a direct, informal term of endearment, like 'darling' or 'sweetheart.'
cariño(Noun (Term of Endearment))
📝 In Action
Hola, cariño, ¿cómo estás?
A1Hi, darling, how are you?
Cariño, ¿me pasas la sal?
A1Honey, can you pass me the salt?
No te preocupes, cariño, todo saldrá bien.
A2Don't worry, sweetheart, everything will be fine.
💡 Grammar Points
A Nickname for Everyone
Even though cariño ends in '-o' and is technically a masculine word, you can use it to address anyone—a man, a woman, or a child. It doesn't change.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Don't Change the Ending
Mistake: "Hola, cariña."
Correction: Hola, cariño. When used as a nickname, the word always stays `cariño`, even when you're talking to a girl or woman.
⭐ Usage Tips
Who Can You Call 'Cariño'?
This is a warm and friendly term, but it's usually for people you're close to, like a partner, a child, or a very close friend. Using it with a stranger could sound too personal.
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: cariño
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence uses 'cariño' to mean the feeling of 'affection'?
📚 More Resources
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.