Dilip Kuner
FROM honey bun to sweetie-poo, the English language has its fair share of nauseating terms of endearment.
This Valentine’s day, why not mix it up a bit and try out some Spanish nicknames for your beloved?
You might want to explain yourself first though, as some of these terms can sound a little strange when directly translated…
Little fat one
Gordi is short for gordito or gordita, which literally mean ‘little fat one’. In English this might be taken as an insult, but in Spanish it has nothing to do with your weight and is used purely out of affection.
My half an orange
Spaniards use media naranja in the same way that you would call someone your other half in English.
My soul
Alma mia can be used as a term of endearment for family members as well as lovers, and is not as intense as it sounds in English.
Little pigeon
Pichoncito/a is a shortening of the word pichón, meaning ‘pigeon’. It may not sound appealing to be compared to these ‘flying rats’ in English, but in Spanish it’s a sickly-sweet nickname which comes originally from South America.
My life
If someone calls you mi vida it means that you are very important to them, although it’s much more common in Spanish than it would be to call someone ‘my everything’ in English.
Heart
Spaniards will often refer to a loved-one as corazón, or ‘heart’.
Affection
Carino is one of the most common terms of endearment in Spanish, and can be used to apply to everyone. It literally translates as ‘affection’, but is used in the same way that ‘darling’ or ‘love’ would be in English. Between lovers it is often shortened to just ‘cari’.
My sky
Mi cielo or simply cielo can be translated as ‘my sky’. Cielo also means ‘heaven’, so if you call someone your pedacito de cielo, you’re calling them your ‘little piece of heaven’.
Bug
Believe it or not, calling someone a bicho or bichito (‘bug’ or ‘little bug’) is purely affectionate in Spanish.
My king/my queen
In English calling someone your king or queen would seem a bit dramatic, but the terms mi rey or mi reina are more commonly used.
READ MORE:
- 12 Spanish insults that will make you sound like a native
- 14 common Spanish proverbs that you can use everyday without offending anyone
- 15 genius Spanish words you just can’t translate into English
