What is the most common nickname showing affection for a child

Question

I am a new grandmother of a Mexican child. I would like to give her an affectionate name such as sweetheart or precious in spanish. I would like to know what names are used in the Mexican/spanish languate to impart that they are special. I heard that the word "Chula" could be used, but I looked that up in the dictionary and it translated to low class or prostitute. Certainly NOT something I would want to call my grandchild. I need something suitable for a darling baby girl.

Answer 1

Here are a few sappy ones. Spanish terms of endearment

I think preciosa or cariño are the two that you mention.

¡Bienvenida al foro!

Welcome to the forum!

cariño is always masculine... even when addressing a girl - Tonyriva, Nov 18, 2010

Odd. I read that in a link below cariño in the dictionary and completely blocked it from my mind Thanks. - 0074b507, Nov 18, 2010

By the way there is also a link to cariña (R A E), but it means something else. - 0074b507, Nov 18, 2010

wow... I didn't know that word... cariña he who lives between Anzoátegui, Monagas and Bolívar, east from Venezuela - Tonyriva, Nov 18, 2010

Some of the spellings in that site are a bit off, by the way, like 'reyna' ('reina') and quite a few accents. - bill1111, Nov 18, 2010

Answer 2

I'd say...

Chiquita (Tiny girl), corazón (heart), mi vida (My life)

for me chula doesn't sound like low class prostitute... it's just "pretty"... in Mexico using the word as an adjective "chula"... means "good looking", "pretty"...

'chula' wouldn't be a typical thing to call a girl in Spain. I means 'cool' when it is said of things, and 'cocky' when it is said of persons. So much so that it is slang for pimp, although not for prostitute. - bill1111, Nov 18, 2010