Terms of endearment

[Jane]

I´ve been wondering about the different names of endearment in Spanish...
Sometime ago a very good friend of mine called me Pequeña..., after I got home I stood in front of my full sized mirror and took my measurement (you don´t wanna know what they are;)),counted my years here on earth and I was totally convinced that I wasn´t that small/little...:).
So the next time I was called by that name, I voiced my objections...and my dear friend laughed so hard and then went on and said to me, "Eres un monstruo..." Can you believe it:yuck:. Me... a monster:eek::D:cool:.
Well, later I was told they´re names of endearment... sometimes, it still takes me an effort to withdraw my objections whenever I hear those words used to address me..., but I just love it.
Cariño /Cari,
Amor /Mi amor,
Cielo,
Primor,
Mi hija/hijo...
I´d like to know which ones apply to friends, family, lover/ husband/wife...:love::love::love:
also as used in Latin American countries.

[poli]

Mi vida is used for the love of your life.
Cubans use negrita/negrito regardless of skin color for any dear person.
Mi amor

[Escarabajo]

Siempre me sorprende oir "gordita" o "gordo" sin malicia.

[Iris]

I use terms of endearment quite often, especially when talking to my children. But there is a Spanish one I can't stand because it sounds awfully posh. Of course this is subjective: my sister uses it all the time when she talks to her husband. I mean cari.:yuck:

[Escarabajo]

Is that a shortening of cariño?

[Iris]

Yeah. It is.

[Rusty]

carito, carita, mijo, mija, miel, mielcito, corazón, mi vida, mi reina, cielo, cielito, preciosa, princesa, guapa, guapo, bichito, bichita, amor, amorcito, gordita, gordito, querida, querido

[Iris]

It seems you have lots of practice, Rusty. Are you a really romantic guy? Or do you just know the theory quite well?;)

[Rusty]

It seems you have lots of practice, Rusty. Are you a really romantic guy? Or do you just know the theory quite well?;)

He tropezado con ellas, nada más. :rolleyes:

[Iris]

¿Con las chicas o con las palabras?

[Rusty]

Un enigma, sin duda. ;)

[Iris]

Well, you know, the words are the easy part...

[Elaina]

Hay personas que usan esos términos muy liberal....a todo mundo le dicen cariño, o mi'ja or mi'jo, mi cielo, mi amor, etc., sin que uno lo sea. Me ha pasado que cuando voy a la estilista se refiere a mi asi: hola cariño.....

Creo que cualquier palabra puede ser "term of endearment" dependiendo el tono de voz.

Elaina:cool:

[Tomisimo]

I've heard/used all of the above. The best one though, was one I heard on the streets of Mexico City, a man called his wife "boloquito mío". :)

[Iris]

Does boloquito mean anything?:confused: Apart from being a term of endearment?

[sosia]

we spoke about "names of endearment" 5 months ago
http://forums.tomisimo.org/showthread.php?t=920
I also say "mi sol"
saludos

[poli]

carito, carita, mijo, mija, miel, mielcito, corazón, mi vida, mi reina, cielo, cielito, preciosa, princesa, guapa, guapo, bichito(cuidado), bichita, amor, amorcito, gordita, gordito, querida, querido

As usual there is a regional taboo here. The word bicho is not a all polite
in the Northeastern United States due to the millions of Puerto Ricans that
live here. It's a vulgar word for penis among Puerto Ricans.

[Rusty]

The region where bichito is most commonly used as a term of endearment is Argentina.

[Iris]

Aquí si le dices a un niño que es un bicho, te refieres a que es muy naughty.
Signed: the official:pelota:

[Rusty]

Sí, es otro sentido de bicho. Se precisa saber en qué manera se le vaya a entender al usar esta palabra.