Inklingo

How to Say "honey" in Spanish

The most common Spanish word for “honey” is “miel” — use 'miel' when referring to the sweet, viscous food substance produced by bees, commonly used as a sweetener..

miel🔊A1

Use 'miel' when referring to the sweet, viscous food substance produced by bees, commonly used as a sweetener.

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cariñoA1

Use 'cariño' as an affectionate term of endearment for a romantic partner, child, or close friend, similar to 'darling' or 'sweetheart'.

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nena🔊B1

Use 'nena' as a term of endearment, typically for a female romantic partner or child, similar to 'babe' or 'girl'. Be cautious as it can sound patronizing to strangers.

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nene🔊B1

Use 'nene' as an affectionate term, primarily for a male child or a male romantic partner, similar to 'kiddo' or 'honey'.

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querida🔊B1

Use 'querida' as a term of endearment for a female, similar to 'dear' or 'darling', often used in a slightly more formal or literary context than 'nena'.

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hija🔊B1

Use 'hija' affectionately when speaking to your own daughter or a young female you feel protective of, similar to 'dear' or 'sweetie'.

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papi🔊A2

Use 'papi' as a term of endearment, often for a male romantic partner or child, similar to 'daddy' or 'babe', carrying a tone of affection and familiarity.

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English → Spanish

miel

/myel//mjel/

nounA1
Use 'miel' when referring to the sweet, viscous food substance produced by bees, commonly used as a sweetener.
A glass jar filled with thick, golden honey sits beside a piece of honeycomb dripping slightly. The scene is bright and inviting.

Examples

Me gusta poner miel en mi tostada del desayuno.

I like to put honey on my breakfast toast.

La miel de abeja es un remedio natural para la tos.

Bee honey is a natural remedy for coughs.

El sabor de esta miel es muy fuerte, debe ser de flores silvestres.

The flavor of this honey is very strong; it must be from wild flowers.

Gender Check

Even though 'miel' ends in -l, it is a feminine noun. You must always use the feminine article 'la' when talking about it: 'la miel'.

Confusing Gender

Mistake: “El miel es dulce.”

Correction: La miel es dulce. ('Miel' is feminine, so use 'la'.)

cariño

nounA1informal
Use 'cariño' as an affectionate term of endearment for a romantic partner, child, or close friend, similar to 'darling' or 'sweetheart'.

Examples

Hola, cariño, ¿cómo estás?

Hi, darling, how are you?

nena

/NEH-nah//ˈnena/

nounB1informal
Use 'nena' as a term of endearment, typically for a female romantic partner or child, similar to 'babe' or 'girl'. Be cautious as it can sound patronizing to strangers.
A smiling adult couple embracing tenderly, looking into each other's eyes against a simple background.

Examples

Hola, nena, ¿cómo estuvo tu día?

Hi, babe, how was your day?

Te quiero mucho, nena.

I love you so much, baby.

Nena, ¿quieres ir al cine esta noche?

Babe, do you want to go to the movies tonight?

Oye, nena, ¿me pasas la sal?

Hey, girl, can you pass me the salt?

Watch Your Tone!

Mistake: “Calling an older woman, a stranger, or a professional colleague 'nena'.”

Correction: Use 'señora', 'disculpe', or her name. 'Nena' can sound disrespectful or overly familiar with strangers or in formal settings. It's best to avoid this usage unless you know the person very well.

nene

NEH-neh/ˈne.ne/

nounB1informal
Use 'nene' as an affectionate term, primarily for a male child or a male romantic partner, similar to 'kiddo' or 'honey'.
A simple storybook illustration showing two adult figures, one slightly taller than the other, holding hands affectionately, symbolizing a couple or partners.

Examples

¿Qué quieres de cenar, nene?

What do you want for dinner, honey?

Hola, nene. ¿Cómo te fue en el trabajo?

Hello, sweetheart. How was work?

querida

/keh-REE-dah//keˈɾi.ða/

nounB1informal
Use 'querida' as a term of endearment for a female, similar to 'dear' or 'darling', often used in a slightly more formal or literary context than 'nena'.
A man and a woman sharing a warm, affectionate hug in a cozy domestic setting, illustrating a term of endearment.

Examples

Hola, querida, ¿cómo estuvo tu día?

Hello, darling, how was your day?

No te preocupes, querida, todo va a estar bien.

Don't worry, sweetheart, everything is going to be okay.

Used Like a Name

When used this way, 'querida' acts like a nickname or a name. You use it to talk directly to a woman or girl you feel affection for.

hija

/ee-khah//ˈixa/

nounB1informal
Use 'hija' affectionately when speaking to your own daughter or a young female you feel protective of, similar to 'dear' or 'sweetie'.
An older woman tenderly smiling at a younger woman, placing her hand gently on the younger woman's shoulder to show affection.

Examples

Ven aquí, hija, que te ayudo con eso.

Come here, dear, let me help you with that.

¡Pero hija, cómo se te ocurre hacer eso!

Oh honey, how could you even think of doing that!

Ella es hija de su tiempo, con ideas muy modernas.

She is a daughter of her time, with very modern ideas.

The Contraction 'Mija'

You'll often hear 'mija', which is just 'mi' (my) + 'hija' (daughter) squished together. It's a very common and warm way to address a daughter or a younger woman you feel close to.

Not Always Literal

Mistake: “Thinking an older stranger calling you 'hija' is your actual mother.”

Correction: When an older person calls you 'hija', it's usually a friendly, motherly gesture, like saying 'dear' or 'sweetie' in English. They're not claiming to be your parent!

papi

PAH-pee/ˈpa.pi/

nounA2informal
Use 'papi' as a term of endearment, often for a male romantic partner or child, similar to 'daddy' or 'babe', carrying a tone of affection and familiarity.
A romantic couple holding hands and gazing at each other lovingly in a soft setting.

Examples

¿A dónde quieres ir de vacaciones, papi?

Where do you want to go on vacation, babe?

Te preparé café, papi. Está en la mesa.

I made you coffee, honey. It's on the table.

Using 'Papi' with Strangers (Non-Slang)

Mistake: “Using 'papi' to refer to a male acquaintance or boss.”

Correction: Reserve 'papi' for very close family (dad/son) or romantic partners. Use 'señor' or 'jefe' for formality.

Distinguishing Terms of Endearment

The most common mistake is using gender-neutral terms like 'miel' for people. Remember that terms like 'cariño', 'nena', 'nene', 'querida', 'hija', and 'papi' are specific terms of endearment and should not be used for the food product. Also, be mindful of the gender and age appropriateness of terms like 'nena' (female) and 'nene' (male).

Related Translations

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