Amiga querida or querida amiga?
For "dear friend" (female), how would you say that? I am not sure where "querida" should go. I am seeing it both ways, and I would like some more opinions because I do not know if some of these people saying what they are saying are natives or not.
Thanks so much for all of your help!
5 Answers
Sometimes it´s like Jeezzle said, but many times it´s a matter of emphasis.
In this case, "Querida amiga" emphasizes "amiga."
And "Amiga querida" emphasizes "querida."
If you ever figure out a clear cut rule as to when an adjective should go before the noun, please be sure to let me know. 
If you ever figure out a clear cut rule as to when an adjective should go before the noun, please be sure to let me know.
If it's figurative it goes before the noun, if it's literal it goes after.
Dear friend? Well there is some degree of sounds better but it's a weird one.
Old friend - Viejo amigo.
Friend that is old - Amigo viejo.
One of my dear Mexican friends who helps me with Spanish has burned a phrase into my brain when I'm trying to get him to explain "which way" or "give me a rule". He will say to me, "Jack, which way does it sound better?"
Querida amiga sounds better to me :~)
Here's my opinion (not a native speaker).
querida amiga = a dear friend
amiga querida = a friend who's acting dearly
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It's a bit like the difference between ser and estar - when the adjective is descriptive, it follows the noun. When the adjective classifies or identifies the subject, it preceeds the noun.
That's what I get out of the sources that I've read, and our own article on Adjective Placement here.
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Would anyone like to confirm or challenge this?
