Who can you call mi amor?
Mi amor is most common between partners, and parents say it to their children at any age. But it isn’t only romantic. A historical dictionary from the Real Academia Española (the RAE, the group that sets standard Spanish) describes amor as a loved person. It says people also use the word as an affectionate or purely friendly way to speak to someone [2].
| Who says it | To whom | How it feels |
|---|---|---|
| A partner | Their partner | Romantic, like "babe" or "my love" |
| A parent or grandparent | A child, even a grown one | Tender, like "sweetie" |
| A friend | A close friend | Friendly, in places where people use it this way |
| Someone you just met | You | Can feel too personal |
The friendly use depends on the country:
- Venezuela and Colombia: the language-learning company Lingvist says people commonly use mi amor with family, friends, and even acquaintances [3].
- Spain: the same source says people use it with partners [3].
- Other places: habits vary. If the people around you say it to friends, you can too. If you’re not sure, let the other person say it first.
You may also hear mis amores ("my loves"). The RAE’s historical dictionary notes that the plural can mean just one person [2].
Sources
- amor - definition of amor by HarperCollinsCollins Spanish-English Dictionary
- amorReal Academia Española, Tesoro de los diccionarios históricos de la lengua española
- "I Love You" in Spanish and Other Romantic PhrasesLingvist
