Here is a list of common Spanish words and affectionate terms you can use to call your boyfriend or girlfriend, with an example sentence for each.
Some grammar notes
Diminutive suffixes
Spanish speakers often add the diminutive suffixes “-ito/a” and “-cito/a” to affectionate words for loved ones. These suffixes can have the literal meaning of referring to something smaller, but they are also used to give words a more affectionate quality, for example:
- Corazón – Heart
- Corazoncito – Can literally mean “little heart”, but also sounds more affectionate than just “corazón”
Gender
It’s also worth pointing out that some of the words below change form depending on whether you’re referring to a boyfriend or a girlfriend, whereas others can be used for both.
Adjectives change form depending on gender, for example “guapo” (“handsome”, masculine) and “guapa” (“pretty”, feminine).
Several nouns also have both a masculine and feminine form, for example “novio” (“boyfriend”, masculine) and “novia” (girlfriend, feminine). Here are some example sentences to show how these words depending on gender:
- Mi novio es guapo. – My boyfriend is handsome.
- Mi novia es guapa. – My girlfriend is pretty.
Many other nouns have a fixed gender and don’t change form, but can still be used to refer to either a boyfriend or girlfriend, for example:
- ¿Cómo estás, cariño? – How are you, sweetheart? (Even though the noun “cariño” is masculine, it can be used to address either a boyfriend or girlfriend, and you don’t change it to “cariña” when addressing a woman.)
1. Mi ángel – My angel
Example: Gracias por cuidar de mí, mi ángel. – Thank you for taking care of me, my angel.
2. Amor – Love
Example: Buenos días, amor. – Good morning, love.
3. Amorcito – (Little) love
Example: Te veo mañana, amorcito. – I’ll see you tomorrow, (little) love.
4. Bebé – Baby
Example: Te extraño, bebé. – I miss you, baby.
5. Cariño – Dear/Darling/Sweetheart
Example: ¿Cómo estás, cariño? – How are you, sweetheart?
6. Cielo – Sky/Heaven (used like “darling” or “sweetheart”)
Example: Ven aquí, cielo. – Come here, darling.
7. Corazoncito – (Little) heart
Example: Eres mi corazoncito. – You are my heart.
8. Gordito/a – Chubby one (playful nickname)
Example: Te quiero mucho, gordita. – I love you so much, my chubby one.
9. Guapo/a – Handsome/Beautiful
Example: ¡Hola, guapa! – Hi, beautiful!
10. Nene/Nena – Boy/Girl
Example: Te extraño, nena. – I miss you, girl.
11. Precioso/a – Precious
Example: Buenos días, preciosa. – Good morning, precious.
12. Príncipe/Princesa – Prince/Princess
Example: Duerme bien, princesa. – Sleep well, princess.
13. Mi rey/reina – My king/queen
Example: Feliz cumpleaños, mi reina. – Happy birthday, my queen.
14. Tesoro – Treasure
Example: Eres mi tesoro. – You are my treasure.
15. Mi todo – My everything
Example: Eres mi todo. – You are my everything.
16. Mi vida – My life
Example: Te extraño mucho, mi vida. – I miss you so much, my life.
