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"Baby" is a noun which is often translated as "el/la bebé", and "I love you" is a phrase which is often translated as "te quiero". Learn more about the difference between "baby" and "I love you" below.
baby(
bey
-
bi
)A noun is a word referring to a person, animal, place, thing, feeling, or idea (e.g., man, dog, house).
1. (infant)
a. el bebé (M), la bebé (F)
(m) means that a noun is masculine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
(f) means that a noun is feminine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
The baby slept soundly through the night.El bebé durmió profundamente toda la noche.
b. el bebe (M), la beba (F) (Honduras) (Peru) (River Plate)
(m) means that a noun is masculine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
(f) means that a noun is feminine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
Regionalism used in Honduras
Regionalism used in Peru
The babies happily listened to the lullaby.Los bebes escucharon felizmente la canción de cuna.
c. el nene (M), la nena (F) (Caribbean) (South America) (Spain)
(m) means that a noun is masculine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
(f) means that a noun is feminine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
Regionalism used in the Caribbean: Cuba, the Dominican Republic, and Puerto Rico
Regionalism used in South America: Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay, and Venezuela
Regionalism used in Spain
How's your baby? Is she walking yet?¿Cómo está tu nena? ¿Ya camina?
d. el guagua (M), la guagua (F) (Andes)
(m) means that a noun is masculine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
(f) means that a noun is feminine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
We saw a ton of babies at the park.Vimos un montón de guaguas en el parque.
2. (animal)
3. (colloquial) (term of endearment) (United States)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
Regionalism used in the United States
c. nene (colloquial) (masculine) (Caribbean) (South America) (Spain)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
Regionalism used in the Caribbean: Cuba, the Dominican Republic, and Puerto Rico
Regionalism used in South America: Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay, and Venezuela
Regionalism used in Spain
Baby, you look so handsome in that suit.Nene, te ves guapísimo en ese traje.
d. nena (colloquial) (feminine) (Caribbean) (South America) (Spain)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
Regionalism used in the Caribbean: Cuba, the Dominican Republic, and Puerto Rico
Regionalism used in South America: Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay, and Venezuela
Regionalism used in Spain
Are you okay, baby? You look sad.¿Nena, estás bien? Te ves triste.
e. bebe (colloquial) (Latin America)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
Regionalism used in Latin America: all the countries in South America, Central America, and the Caribbean. Does not include Spain.
Don't get mad, baby. You asked for my opinion, and I gave it to you.No te enfades, bebe. Me pediste mi opinión, y yo te la di.
a. el chico (M), la chica (F)
(m) means that a noun is masculine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
(f) means that a noun is feminine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
Here comes my baby.Aquí viene mi chico.
a. el niño (M), la niña (F)
(m) means that a noun is masculine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
(f) means that a noun is feminine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
Don't be such a baby! It doesn't hurt that much.¡No seas niño! No duele tanto.
An adjective is a word that describes a noun (e.g., the big dog).
7. (for a baby)
a. no direct translation
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.
My favorite part of the safari was seeing the baby elephants bathing with their mothers.Mi parte favorita del safari fue ver las crías de elefante bañándose con sus madres.
We saw some baby rabbits at the farm.Vimos unos conejitos en la granja.
A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g., I bought a book.).
9. (to pamper)
I love you(
ay
luhv
yu
)A phrase is a group of words commonly used together (e.g., once upon a time).
a. te quiero (informal) (singular)
A word or phrase used to refer to the second person informal “tú” by their conjugation or implied context (e.g., How are you?).
A word or phrase that is singular (e.g., el gato).
I love you no matter what.Te quiero pase lo que pase.
b. te amo (informal) (singular)
A word or phrase used to refer to the second person informal “tú” by their conjugation or implied context (e.g., How are you?).
A word or phrase that is singular (e.g., el gato).
Saying "I love you" is a big step in a relationship.Decir "te amo" es un momento importante en una relación.
c. lo quiero (formal) (masculine) (singular)
A word or phrase used to refer to the second person formal “usted” by their conjugation or implied context (e.g., usted).
A word or phrase that is masculine (e.g., el libro).
A word or phrase that is singular (e.g., el gato).
I love you more than you love me.Lo quiero más de lo que usted me quiere a mí.
d. la quiero (feminine) (formal) (singular)
A word or phrase that is feminine (e.g., la manzana).
A word or phrase used to refer to the second person formal “usted” by their conjugation or implied context (e.g., usted).
A word or phrase that is singular (e.g., el gato).
I love you. I really do. - You're making me blush.La quiero. En serio. - Me haces sonrojar.
e. lo amo (formal) (masculine) (singular)
A word or phrase used to refer to the second person formal “usted” by their conjugation or implied context (e.g., usted).
A word or phrase that is masculine (e.g., el libro).
A word or phrase that is singular (e.g., el gato).
I love you, Mr. Miller, but I don't want to be in a relationship right now.Lo amo, Sr. Miller, pero por ahora no quiero estar en una relación.
f. la amo (feminine) (formal) (singular)
A word or phrase that is feminine (e.g., la manzana).
A word or phrase used to refer to the second person formal “usted” by their conjugation or implied context (e.g., usted).
A word or phrase that is singular (e.g., el gato).
I know you're my boss, but I love you.Sé que usted es mi jera, pero la amo.
a. los quiero (masculine or mixed gender) (plural)
A word or phrase used to refer to a group including masculine words or both masculine and feminine words (e.g., bienvenidos).
A word or phrase that is plural (e.g., los libros).
You're my parents and I love you, but I have to live my own life.Son mis padres y los quiero, pero tengo que vivir mi vida.
b. las quiero (feminine) (plural)
A word or phrase that is feminine (e.g., la manzana).
A word or phrase that is plural (e.g., los libros).
I love you, girls! I'm glad to be part of this wonderful team.¡Las quiero, chicas! Me alegra formar parte de este maravilloso equipo.
c. los amo (masculine or mixed gender) (plural)
A word or phrase used to refer to a group including masculine words or both masculine and feminine words (e.g., bienvenidos).
A word or phrase that is plural (e.g., los libros).
I love you with all my heart, my darlings!¡Los amo de todo corazón, queridos!
d. las amo (feminine) (plural)
A word or phrase that is feminine (e.g., la manzana).
A word or phrase that is plural (e.g., los libros).
I love you more than you could ever imagine.Las amo más de lo que pueden imaginar.
