Don’t say MI AMOR in Spanish!

Sí, seguro que “mi amor” no suena mal (yes, sure “mi amor” doesn’t sound bad) but it’s pretty standard, and if you want to dazzle your Latin significant other you have to start calling them with better nicknames! If you want to keep things exciting in your relationship and not bore your Latino partner, you better get rid of this cliché! 

Why not use one of these 6 alternatives that native Spanish speakers use all the time instead? I am Spring Spanish teacher Juan, and here is your first “mi amor” alternative: 

1. Querido or querida (dear)

Normally used before the name of the person, like querido Juan or querida Marifer, can be said when referring to your loved one in front of people, as it’s seen as a slightly formal expression. 

You can also use it with family and friends, or even before the title of the person, like querida jefa, quisiera pedirle un aumento (dear boss, I’d like to ask for a raise) or querido profesor Juan, me gustó tanto tu video que se lo voy a compartir a mis amigos (dear teacher Juan, I liked your video so much that I’m going to share it with my friends). Just an example of what you could write in the comments.

2. Mi corazón (my heart)

If you ever get to a Caribbean shop or community, you’ll feel like they’re all hitting on you, pero en realidad así es como hablamos (but actually that’s just how we speak). 

You can surprise your Spanish-speaking sweetheart by saying:

ACTOR 1
Mi corazón, ¡te invito a cenar hoy a tu restaurante favorito! 
(My heart, I want to invite you to dinner to your favorite restaurant!) 

ACTOR 1
Oye corazón, ¿estás segura de que quieres pedir eso? Se ve bastante caro…
(Hey heart, are you sure you want to order that? It looks rather expensive…)

ACTOR 1 (standing up and slowly walking away)
Mi corazón hermosa, bellísima, ¿puedes pagar tú? Es que dejé la billetera en el auto…
(My beautiful heart, precious, can you pay? I left the wallet in my car…)

VOICE EN OFF 
Pero si tú no tienes auto…
(But you don’t have a car…)

3. Cielo (Sky)

(Singing) Ese lunar que tienes, cielito lindo, junto a la boca (That birthmark you have, beautiful sky, next to your mouth) if you’re close to Mexican culture you’ve probably heard that one! And yes, calling your boyfriend or girlfriend cielo o cielito (sky or little sky) is a thing in Spanish. 

Pero si quieres hacer más que simplemente decirles nombres cursis a tu novio o novia (But if you want to do more than just call your boyfriend or girlfriend cheesy names), why don’t you help yourself with the link in the description! 

That will take you to our Free Essential Spanish Chunking Kit with lots of great chunks to learn in Spanish. Imagine telling your corazoncito “no cabe duda de que eres lo más hermoso que he visto” (little heart “there’s no doubt that you’re the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen”). One way road, right there.

4. Gordo or gorda (chubby)

This might come as a little bit of a culture shock if you’re new to Latin communities, but yes, probablemente escuches gordo, gorda o hasta gordita entre parejas de hispanohablantes (you’ll probably hear gordo, gorda or even gordita among Spanish-speaking couples). 

Funny thing is, it doesn’t even have to do anything with your physical appearance, si tienes novio o novia, se llaman así y punto. ¿Verdad, gordi? (if you have a girlfriend or boyfriend, then you call them that and period. Right, chubby?) 

CHUNK ALERT: Y punto (and period) is a chunk we use in Spanish to give a statement a strong ending, same as the English “period”. Like you’ve made up your mind, and you’re putting your foot down! The literal translation doesn’t really mean anything in English, so just learn it by heart and use it as “and that’s that” like this: ¡En esta casa se hace lo que yo digo y punto! (In this house everyone does what I say and that’s that!) Just don’t tell my wife I said that…

5. Names with adjectives

Hermosa, bonita, divina, preciosa además de adjetivos, también pueden ser sobrenombres para tu novia o novio. (Gorgeous, pretty, tasty, precious, besides being adjectives, can also be nicknames for your girlfriend or boyfriend.)

6. Names to call your partner when you’re alone with them

So let’s say you and your partner are you know, in a romantic video call, or  in the comfort of your home, no one to judge you, la cosa se pone romántica (it starts to get romantic) y es el momento de ponerse creativo, mi hermano (and it’s time to get creative, my brother).  

We Latinos love to use diminutivos (diminutives) to call our loved ones, like instead of saying mi amor, we use mi amorcito, mi reinita, mi corazoncito, (my little love, my little queen, my little heart) right? 

We even have food names like mi pastelito, chocolatico, caramelito (my little muffin, my little chocolate, little hard candy) or even abstract stuff like cosita rica, (tasty thing) dulzura (sweetness), ternurita (little tenderness), Spanish has it all and there are no rules as long as you say it with love. Just be mindful of your surroundings:

ACTOR 1
¿Aló? ¿Me escuchas bien?
(Hello? Can you hear me well?)

ACTOR 2
Sí, perfecto. Estoy con-
(Yes, perfect. I’m with-)

ACTOR 1
Ah qué bien. Te extraño tanto mi preciosura, cosita divina, quiero agarrarte y besarte, ricura-
(Oh okay. I miss you so much my gorgeous, tasty thing, I want to hold you and kiss you, delicious-)

ACTOR 2
Eh, espera…
(Uhm, wait…)

ACTOR 1
Te quiero comer, mi bombón de chocolate, mi cachorrita, rrrrr. Bueno, está bien, ya. ¿Qué me ibas a decir?
(I want to eat you up, my chocolate bonbon, my kitten, grrrr. Okay I’m done. What were you going to say?)

ACTOR 2
Que me llamaste al trabajo, estoy en una reunión y estás en el altavoz…
(You called me at work, I’m in a meeting and you’re on speaker…)