How to Say "to cherish" in Spanish
The most common Spanish word for “to cherish” is “valorar” — use this when you mean to hold something or someone very dear, often in the context of relationships or personal qualities.
valorar
bah-loh-RAHRbaloˈɾaɾ
Examples
Valoro mucho tu amistad.
I cherish your friendship very much.
Debemos valorar el esfuerzo de los demás.
We should appreciate the effort of others.
Mis padres siempre me enseñaron a valorar las cosas pequeñas.
My parents always taught me to appreciate the little things.
Using 'a' with people
When you value a specific person, you must use the 'personal a'. For example: 'Valoro a mi profesor'.
Adverb placement
In Spanish, words like 'mucho' or 'poco' usually go right after 'valorar' to say how much you appreciate something.
Missing the 'a'
Mistake: “Valoro mi madre.”
Correction: Valoro a mi madre. (You need the 'a' because you are talking about a specific person you care about.)
amar
ah-MAHRaˈmaɾ
Examples
El filósofo amaba la verdad por encima de todo.
The philosopher cherished truth above all else.
Ellos aman el arte y la belleza en todas sus formas.
They adore art and beauty in all its forms.
acariciar
ah-kah-ree-syahrakaɾiˈsjaɾ
Examples
Ella acaricia el sueño de ser una gran pianista.
She cherishes the dream of being a great pianist.
Acarician la idea de mudarse a España algún día.
They are harboring the idea of moving to Spain someday.
La brisa acariciaba la superficie del lago.
The breeze skimmed the surface of the lake.
Abstract Objects
When using this verb for dreams or ideas, you don't need the 'personal a' because ideas aren't people or pets.
proteger
proh-teh-HÉHRpɾo.teˈxeɾ
Examples
Es deber del gobierno proteger los derechos de los ciudadanos.
It is the government's duty to cherish the rights of citizens.
Debemos proteger la biodiversidad de nuestro planeta.
We must conserve the biodiversity of our planet.
Ella protege la memoria de su abuela, contando sus historias.
She cherishes her grandmother's memory by telling her stories.
Active vs. Passive Voice
This verb is often seen in the passive voice, especially in official language: 'Los datos son protegidos por la ley' (The data is protected by law).
albergar
ahl-behr-GAHRalbeɾˈɡaɾ
Examples
Todavía albergo la esperanza de que todo salga bien.
I still cherish the hope that everything will turn out well.
No es bueno albergar rencor hacia los demás.
It is not good to harbor resentment toward others.
Él albergaba serias dudas sobre el éxito del plan.
He held serious doubts about the plan's success.
Abstract Usage
When used with emotions, this word functions just like 'to harbor' in English—it implies keeping a feeling inside for a long time.
mimar
mee-MARmiˈmaɾ
Examples
El escritor mima cada palabra de su nueva novela.
The writer cherishes every word of his new novel.
Mimo mucho mi jardín para que las flores crezcan sanas.
I take great care of my garden so the flowers grow healthy.
Es un coleccionista que mima sus libros antiguos.
He is a collector who treats his old books with great care.
Non-living things
When using 'mimar' for objects, you don't need the 'a' before the object: 'Mimo mi coche' (I dote on my car).
Cherishing Dreams vs. Cherishing Value
Related Translations
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