Spanish Terms of Endearment: 16 Pet Names Locals Actually Use

The Short Answer

The most popular Spanish term of endearment is Mi amor (mee ah-MOR), meaning "my love." It works in every Spanish-speaking country, for romantic partners and children alike. But Spanish has one of the richest vocabularies for affectionate nicknames of any language, from poetic names like Mi vida (my life) to body-based pet names like Gordito/a (chubby one) that would be unthinkable in English.

Spanish is spoken by approximately 559 million people across 21 countries, according to Ethnologue's 2024 data. That vast geography has produced a remarkable diversity of pet names, each reflecting local culture, humor, and attitudes toward physical affection. A couple in Madrid reaches for cariño (darling); in Mexico City it is mi vida (my life); in Buenos Aires, gordo/a (literally "fat one") is said with complete tenderness.

"The terms of affection a culture uses reveal its deepest values about intimacy, family, and the body. Spanish-speaking cultures favor endearments that are grand, physical, and unashamed, a reflection of how openly these societies express love."

(Ricardo Morant Marco, El lenguaje de los afectos, Universitat de Valencia, 2005)

This guide covers 16 Spanish terms of endearment organized by category: universal favorites, romantic and poetic, playful and physical, and family-oriented. Each one includes pronunciation, an example sentence, and cultural context so you know exactly when and where to use it.

Quick Reference: Spanish Terms of Endearment at a Glance

Universal Favorites

These terms of endearment are understood and used across the entire Spanish-speaking world. According to the Instituto Cervantes, they represent the shared affectionate vocabulary that unites 21 countries and half a billion speakers.

Mi amor

Mi amor is the undisputed champion of Spanish pet names. The Instituto Cervantes has noted that it transcends regional and social boundaries more consistently than almost any other affectionate term in the language. You will hear it whispered between lovers in a Seville café, shouted across a Mexico City market by a mother calling her child, and used casually by a Colombian grandmother addressing her granddaughter.

Unlike English "my love," which can sound old-fashioned, mi amor remains the standard, everyday term of choice for millions of couples. It never ages out of style.

Cariño

In Spain, cariño is the default term of endearment, the one that feels as natural as breathing between long-term couples. It carries a warm, domestic quality, like a favorite sweater. The word itself means "affection" or "fondness," which gives it a softer, less dramatic feel than mi amor.

Cariño also works between close female friends in Spain. Two women who have been friends for years might call each other cariño casually, much like "honey" or "hon" in English.

Mi vida

Calling someone "my life" sounds dramatic in English, but in Spanish it is entirely natural. Mi vida reflects a cultural tendency toward grand, emotionally expansive language. Where English pet names lean toward the small and cozy ("honey," "babe"), Spanish leans toward the vast and poetic.

The diminutive form mi vidita (my little life) exists too, adding an extra layer of tenderness that is particularly common when speaking to young children.

Corazón

Corazón has been used as a term of endearment since medieval Spanish. According to the Real Academia Española (RAE), its figurative use (calling a loved person "heart") dates back to at least the 13th century. The diminutive corazoncito (little heart) softens it further and is especially popular with children.

The word also appears in countless Spanish songs and poems, making it one of the most culturally loaded terms of endearment in the language.

Romantic and Poetic

These expressions carry a distinctly romantic charge. They are the names reserved for partners, dates, and the language of courtship.

Cielo

Cielo is especially dominant in Spain, where couples drop it into conversation as naturally as a comma. The metaphor is beautiful: you are calling someone your sky, your heaven, something vast, beautiful, and all-encompassing. You can use the full form mi cielo or just cielo standalone.

The related expression mi sol (my sun) exists too, though it is less common. Together, they paint a picture of how Spanish endearments draw from nature's grandest imagery.

Querido/a

Querido/a derives from the verb querer (to love, to want) and carries a classic elegance. It sits at a slightly more refined register than mi amor or cariño, the kind of pet name you might hear from a couple who has been together for decades.

It also doubles as the standard letter opening (Querido Juan = Dear Juan), giving it a formal dimension. Between partners, however, it is warm and intimate.

Mi rey / Mi reina

Mi reina is particularly popular in Colombia and across the Caribbean, where it extends beyond romantic contexts. A shopkeeper might call a female customer mi reina as a warm, friendly gesture, with no romantic implication intended. But between partners, the royalty metaphor conveys genuine adoration.

The masculine mi rey is less common in casual speech but is used between couples, especially by women addressing their partners.

Mi tesoro

Mi tesoro suggests that someone is rare, precious, and carefully guarded. It is one of the most tender terms in Spanish, often preferred by parents when speaking to young children. Between couples, it conveys a depth of appreciation that goes beyond surface-level attraction.

Playful and Physical

Spanish-speaking cultures have a distinctly physical approach to terms of endearment. Body-based nicknames that would be shocking in English are genuinely affectionate in Spanish, a reflection of how openly these cultures relate to the body. As linguist Ricardo Morant Marco notes, these endearments "encode a fundamentally positive relationship with physicality."

Gordito/a

This is the expression that bewilders every English speaker learning Spanish. Calling your partner "chubby" is not only acceptable but deeply affectionate. The diminutive suffix transforms gordo/a (fat) into gordito/a (chubby one), stripping away any negative meaning entirely.

In Argentina, the non-diminutive gordo/a is itself used as an affectionate pet name. ¡Hola, gorda! between couples is completely normal. This reflects a broader cultural comfort with physical descriptions as expressions of intimacy.

Flaco/a

Flaco/a is the mirror image of gordito/a. It literally means "skinny one" but functions as a warm, casual pet name. It is especially dominant in Argentina and Uruguay, where flaca is one of the most common things you will hear a man call his partner.

Just like gordito/a, the person's actual build is irrelevant. A stocky man calling his partner flaca and being called gordo in return is a perfectly normal exchange.

Papi / Mami

Papi and mami carry a flirtatious, confident energy that is deeply rooted in Caribbean and Colombian culture. In the Dominican Republic, Cuba, and Puerto Rico, you will hear these terms constantly between couples and in social settings. They convey attraction, warmth, and playful confidence.

These terms have nothing to do with parenthood when used between romantic interests. They are closer in spirit to "handsome" or "gorgeous" in English. You will hear them frequently in reggaeton and salsa music. Check out our guide to the best movies for learning Spanish for authentic examples.

Bombón

Comparing someone to chocolate is a compliment in any language, but bombón has become a full-fledged term of endearment in Spanish. It is used to tell someone they look attractive (estás hecho/a un bombón, "you look gorgeous") or as a standalone pet name between couples.

Muñeca

Muñeca (doll) is a compliment directed at women, comparing them to something beautiful and delicate. It works well between established couples but should be used carefully with strangers, as in some contexts it can feel like catcalling. Between partners, however, it is warm and admiring.

Family and Everyday

These terms bridge the gap between romantic pet names and everyday family affection. They are the words that fill Spanish-speaking homes.

Nene / Nena

Nene/nena is the Spanish equivalent of "babe" -- a casual, domestic pet name that couples use in everyday life. It also means "baby" when referring to actual infants, but between adults it carries no childish connotation. You will hear it constantly in Argentine and Spanish households.

Chiquito/a

Diminutives are the lifeblood of Mexican Spanish, and chiquito/a is one of the most popular. It reduces chico/a (small) to something tiny and tender. The double diminutive chiquitito/a -- adding a second layer of smallness -- cranks the affection up even further and is commonly used with babies and toddlers.

Mi sol

Mi sol completes the celestial pair alongside mi cielo. While less common than the top-tier endearments, it carries a bright, optimistic warmth. Parents often use mi solecito (my little sunshine) with babies, and it appears frequently in lullabies and children's songs.

Regional Preferences at a Glance

Spanish terms of endearment vary widely by region. While the core vocabulary is shared, each area has strong favorites.

"Regional variation in affectionate language is one of the clearest markers of cultural identity within the Spanish-speaking world. A single pet name can immediately place a speaker geographically." -- Francisco Moreno Fernández, Variedades de la lengua española (Routledge, 2020)

How to Use Terms of Endearment Naturally

Understanding when and how to use pet names is just as important as knowing the words themselves. Here are the key principles.

Timing and Relationship Stage

Gender Patterns

Most Spanish endearments are gendered. The pattern is straightforward:

• -o ending → masculine (gordito, querido, chiquito)
• -a ending → feminine (gordita, querida, chiquita)
• No gender → works for anyone (mi amor, cariño, cielo, corazón, mi vida)

The gender-neutral terms (mi amor, cariño, cielo, corazón) are safe defaults if you are unsure which form to use.

Practice With Real Spanish Content

Reading about terms of endearment gives you the vocabulary, but hearing them spoken naturally -- with authentic tone, emotion, and context -- is what makes them stick. Spanish-language telenovelas are arguably the best resource for romantic vocabulary, and modern series on streaming platforms have moved far beyond the melodramatic stereotypes.

Wordy lets you watch Spanish movies and series with interactive subtitles. When you hear mi vida whispered in a scene or gordito called across a kitchen, you can tap the phrase to see its meaning, pronunciation, and cultural context instantly. Instead of memorizing pet names from a list, you absorb them from real conversations between real people.

For more Spanish content, explore our blog for guides including the best movies to learn Spanish. You can also visit our Spanish learning page to start practicing with authentic dialogue today.