Inklingo

How to Say "to pet" in Spanish

English → Spanish

acariciar

/ah-kah-ree-syahr//akaɾiˈsjaɾ/

verbA2animals or pets
Use 'acariciar' when you are specifically talking about gently stroking or petting an animal.
A child's hand gently stroking the soft fur of a fluffy golden retriever dog.

Examples

Me encanta acariciar a mi perro cuando está tranquilo.

I love to pet my dog when he is calm.

Me gusta acariciar a mi gato mientras leo.

I like to pet my cat while I read.

La madre acarició la mejilla del bebé.

The mother stroked the baby's cheek.

Él la acariciaba con mucha ternura.

He was caressing her with a lot of tenderness.

Using 'A' with Pets

In Spanish, we use the word 'a' before the animal if it is a specific pet you care about. Say 'Acaricio a mi perro' instead of just 'Acaricio mi perro'.

A Regular Verb

This verb follows the standard rules for verbs ending in -ar. If you know how to conjugate 'hablar', you already know how to conjugate 'acariciar'!

Using 'Tocar' for Affection

Mistake: “Toco a mi gato.”

Correction: Acaricio a mi gato.

mimar

/mee-MAR//miˈmaɾ/

verbA2gentle touch or caress
Use 'mimar' to describe pampering, spoiling, or showing excessive affection through gentle touch, often with people, but can also be used for pets in a spoiling context.
A child wrapped in a soft blanket being hugged warmly by a parent.

Examples

Los abuelos a veces miman demasiado a sus nietos.

Grandparents sometimes spoil their grandchildren too much.

Mi abuela siempre mima a sus nietos con dulces.

My grandmother always pampers her grandchildren with sweets.

No debes mimar tanto al niño o se portará mal.

You shouldn't spoil the child so much or he will behave badly.

Después de una semana dura, me gusta mimarme con un baño largo.

After a hard week, I like to pamper myself with a long bath.

The Personal 'A'

Since you usually pamper people or pets, you must use the 'a' after the verb: 'Mimo a mi perro' (I pamper my dog).

Reflexive Pampering

Add 'se' to the end (mimarse) to talk about treating yourself. In this case, use pronouns like 'me mimo' (I treat myself).

Spoil vs. Mimar

Mistake: “Using 'mimar' for food that has gone bad.”

Correction: Food 'se echa a perder.' Use 'mimar' only for the kind of spoiling that involves too much affection.

Acariciar vs. Mimar

The most common mistake is using 'mimar' when you simply mean petting an animal. Remember, 'acariciar' is the direct translation for petting animals, while 'mimar' implies a deeper sense of pampering or spoiling, not just a simple stroke.

Related Translations

Learn Spanish with Inklingo

Interactive stories, personalized learning, and more.