Spanish vocabulary · Beginner
How to Say Dear in Spanish
Querido · adjective · keh-REE-doh
The Spanish word for dear is 'querido' (masculine) or 'querida' (feminine) when expressing affection. In formal letters and emails, 'estimado' or 'estimada' is the preferred translation, equivalent to 'Dear Sir/Madam.'
Pronounce it as keh-REE-doh, with three syllables and the stress on the second. The feminine 'querida' is keh-REE-dah.
Querida María, te escribo para contarte algo.
Dear María, I am writing to tell you something.
dear in Spanish: Quick Reference
Below are the most common Spanish words for dear, with pronunciation and regional usage notes.
| Spanish | English | Pronunciation | Region / Register |
|---|---|---|---|
| querido | dear | keh-REE-doh | Default, widely understood |
| querida | dear | feminine form | |
| estimado | dear | formal correspondence |
How Native Speakers Use Querido
Real example sentences across three contexts you'll actually run into.
Personal letter
Querido abuelo, te extraño mucho.
Dear grandfather, I miss you very much.
Writing an affectionate letter to a family member.
Formal email
Estimado señor López, le escribo para solicitar información.
Dear Mr. López, I am writing to request information.
Starting a formal business email.
Term of endearment
Ven aquí, mi querida, quiero abrazarte.
Come here, my dear, I want to hug you.
Using dear as a term of affection.
Avoid These Mistakes When Using Querido
Wrong formality level
Incorrect: Querido señor director, solicito una reunión.
Correct: Estimado señor director, solicito una reunión.
'Querido' conveys affection and is too informal for business correspondence. Use 'estimado' for formal contexts.
Gender mismatch
Incorrect: Querido Ana, gracias por tu carta.
Correct: Querida Ana, gracias por tu carta.
Since Ana is feminine, the adjective must agree: 'querida,' not 'querido.'
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See Querido used by native speakers
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Common Questions About dear in Spanish
- When should you use querido versus estimado?
- Use 'querido/querida' in personal letters, with friends, and with family, and reserve 'estimado/estimada' for formal or professional correspondence where emotional closeness is not implied.
- Can querido be used as a noun in Spanish?
- When used with a possessive like 'mi querido' or 'mi querida,' it functions as a noun meaning 'my dear' or 'my darling,' serving as an affectionate way to address someone.
- How do you start a formal letter in Spanish?
- Formal letters typically begin with 'Estimado/a' followed by the person's title and surname, such as 'Estimada Dra. García' or 'Estimado Sr. Rodríguez,' followed by a colon.