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"Cariño" is a noun which is often translated as "affection", and "afecto" is a noun which is also often translated as "affection". Learn more about the difference between "cariño" and "afecto" below.
el cariño(
kah
-
ree
-
nyoh
)
A masculine noun is used with masculine articles and adjectives (e.g., el hombre guapo, el sol amarillo).
masculine noun
a. affection
Echaba de menos el cariño de su familia.He missed the affection of his family.
a. care
La enfermera trató al paciente con cariño.The nurse treated the patient with care.
a. caress
Al bebé le gustan los cariños de su madre.The baby likes his mother's caresses.
a. dear
¿Dormiste bien, cariño?Did you sleep well, dear?
b. honey
Dame un beso, cariño.Give me a kiss, honey.
c. darling
¿Hiciste la tarea, cariño? - Sí, papá.Did you do your homework, darling? - Yes, Dad.
d. sweetheart
Cariño, no te olvides de que hoy cenamos en casa de mis padres.Sweetheart, don't forget we're having dinner at my parents' today.
e. love
Cariño, ¿puedes sacar al perro?Can you walk the dog, love?
f. baby
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
(colloquial)
Cariño, ¿dónde está mi celular?Baby, where's my phone?
g. babe
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
(colloquial)
Cariño, ¿me traes el desayuno a la cama?Babe, can you make me breakfast in bed?
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el afecto, afecto(
ah
-
fehk
-
toh
)
A masculine noun is used with masculine articles and adjectives (e.g., el hombre guapo, el sol amarillo).
masculine noun
a. affection
Siento mucho afecto por Daniel y su familia. Son unos buenos amigos.I feel great affection for Daniel and his family. They're good friends.
b. fondness
Recuerdo a algunos de mis maestros de primaria con mucho afecto.I remember some of my primary school teachers with great fondness.
c.
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.
no direct translation
Siento afecto por ti, pero no te quiero.I'm fond of you, but I don't love you.
Claro que los gatos sienten afecto por sus dueños; yo diría que nos aman.Of course cats are fond of their owners; I'd say they love us.
An adjective is a word that describes a noun (e.g., the big dog).
adjective
a. fond of
Manuel es muy afecto al rock, pero no le gusta el pop.Manuel is very fond of rock, but he doesn't like pop.
b. keen on
No soy afecto a los deportes extremos, pero gracias por la invitación.I'm not keen on extreme sports, but thank you for the invitation.
c. attached to (devoted to)
Soy muy afecta a mi abuela.I'm very attached to my grandmother.
a. subject to
No entiendo por qué estos productos están afectos al IVA.I don't understand why these products are subject to VAT.
b. liable to
No te olvides que los beneficios están afectos a impuestos.Don't forget that profits are liable to taxes.
a. attached to
Los empleados afectos a esta secretaría deberán usar identificación.All employees attached to this department must carry identification.
a. afflicted with
Aquí muchas personas están afectas de SIDA.Here, many people are afflicted with AIDS.
b. with (preposition)
Un paciente afecto de bronquitis tuvo que ser internado en el hospital.A patient with bronchitis had to be admitted to the hospital.
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