Understanding how to say SWEETHEART in different languages enriches our appreciation of different cultures and emphasizes the universal significance of love and affection.
Why Learning “Sweetheart” in Different Languages Matters
The term “sweetheart” conveys tenderness, love, and endearment between partners. Learning to say it across languages can enhance communication and foster connections with people from diverse backgrounds.
Saying “Sweetheart” in European Languages
Western European Languages
- English: Sweetheart (pronounced SWEET-hart)
- French: Chéri (pronounced shay-REE for male) / Chérie (pronounced shay-REE for female)
- German: Schatz (pronounced shahts)
- Spanish: Cariño (pronounced kah-REE-nyo)
- Italian: Amore (pronounced ah-MO-reh)
- Portuguese: Querido (pronounced keh-REE-doo for male) / Querida (pronounced keh-REE-dah for female)
- Dutch: Lieverd (pronounced LEE-vurt)
- Catalan: Estimat (pronounced es-tee-MAHT for male) / Estimada (pronounced es-tee-MAH-dah for female)
Northern European Languages
- Swedish: Älskling (pronounced EL-skleeng)
- Danish: Kære (pronounced KEH-rah)
- Norwegian: Kjære (pronounced SHYAH-reh)
- Finnish: Rakas (pronounced RAH-kahs)
- Icelandic: Kjós (pronounced KYOOS)
Eastern European Languages
- Russian: Дорогой (pronounced da-roh-GOY for male) / Дорогая (pronounced da-roh-GA-ya for female)
- Polish: Kochanie (pronounced koh-HAH-nyeh)
- Czech: Drahý (pronounced DRAH-hee for male) / Drahá (pronounced DRAH-hah for female)
- Hungarian: Kedves (pronounced KED-vesh)
- Ukrainian: Коханий (pronounced ko-HAH-nee for male) / Кохана (pronounced ko-HAH-nah for female)
Celtic Languages
- Irish Gaelic: A ghrá (pronounced ah GRAW)
- Scottish Gaelic: Mo ghrà (pronounced moh GRAW)
- Welsh: Annwyl (pronounced AN-wil)
Other European Languages
- Basque: Maitia (pronounced MAI-tee-ah)
- Maltese: Għaġeb (pronounced AH-jeb)
- Albanian: Zemra (pronounced ZEM-rah)
Saying “Sweetheart” in Asian Languages
East Asian Languages
- Chinese (Simplified): 亲爱的 (pronounced qīn ài de)
- Chinese (Traditional): 親愛的 (pronounced qīn ài de)
- Japanese: 愛しい人 (pronounced itoshii hito)
- Korean: 사랑하는 사람 (pronounced salanghaneun saram)
South Asian Languages
- Hindi: प्रिय (pronounced priya)
- Bengali: প্রিয় (pronounced priya)
- Tamil: காதலன் (pronounced kāthalan for male) / காதலி (pronounced kāthali for female)
- Urdu: پیار (pronounced pyaar)
- Punjabi: ਪਿਆਰ (pronounced pi-aar)
- Telugu: ప్రియుడు (pronounced pri-yudu for male) / ప్రియురాలు (pronounced pri-yurālu for female)
- Gujarati: પ્રેમ (pronounced prem)
Southeast Asian Languages
- Thai: ที่รัก (pronounced thîi-rák)
- Vietnamese: Người yêu (pronounced nɨəi jəu)
- Indonesian: Sayang (pronounced sah-yang)
- Malay: Sayang (pronounced sah-yang)
- Khmer (Cambodian): ស្នេហ៍ (pronounced sneah)
Central Asian Languages
- Kazakh: Қымбат (pronounced qymbat)
- Uzbek: Qadrdon (pronounced qadr-don)
- Turkmen: Gyz (pronounced gyz)
- Tajik: Меҳрубон (pronounced mehrubon)
Saying “Sweetheart” in Middle-Eastern Languages
- Arabic: حبيبي (pronounced habibi for male) / حبيبتي (pronounced habibati for female)
- Hebrew: אהובי (pronounced ohuvi for male) / אהובתי (pronounced ohuvati for female)
- Persian (Farsi): عزیزم (pronounced azizam)
- Turkish: Sevgilim (pronounced sev-gee-leem)
- Kurdish (Sorani): خۆشەویستم (pronounced khoshawistim)
Saying “Sweetheart” in African Languages
- Swahili: Mpenzi (pronounced mpehn-zee)
- Zulu: Uthando (pronounced oo-tahn-do)
- Afrikaans: Liefling (pronounced LEE-fling)
- Amharic: ውዕል (pronounced we’ēl)
- Yoruba: Olufẹ́ (pronounced oh-loo-feh)
- Igbo: Nwanna m (pronounced nwanna m)
- Hausa: Masoyi (pronounced mah-soh-yee)
- Somali: Jaceyl (pronounced ja-cayl)
Saying “Sweetheart” in Austronesian Languages
- Filipino (Tagalog): Sinta (pronounced sin-tah)
- Cebuano: Gihigugma (pronounced gee-hee-goog-mah)
- Maori: Aroha (pronounced ah-roh-hah)
- Hawaiian: Aloha (pronounced ah-loh-hah)
- Javanese: Tresna (pronounced tres-nah)
- Malagasy: Tiako (pronounced tee-ah-koh)
Saying “Sweetheart” in Indigenous Languages
Native American Languages
- Quechua: Warmi (pronounced wahr-mee)
- Navajo: Ayóó anííníshní (pronounced ah-YO-ah ah-nee-nee-snee)
Australian Aboriginal Languages
- Pitjantjatjara: Ngana (used for sweetheart or partner)
More Translations of SWEETHEART in Different Languages
- Amharic (Ethiopia): ውድ (pronounced wid)
- Georgian: საყვარელი (pronounced saq’vareli)
- Mongolian: хайр (pronounced khair)
- Nepali: प्रिय (pronounced priya)
- Sinhala (Sri Lanka): ආදරෙයි (pronounced ādarayi)
- Estonian: kallis (pronounced kah-lis)
- Latvian: mīļotais (pronounced meel-yo-tice)
- Lithuanian: mielasis (pronounced myel-ah-sis)
- Macedonian: сакан (pronounced sakan)
- Armenian: սիրելին (pronounced sirelin)
- Bosnian: dragi (pronounced dra-gee)
- Albanian: i dashur (pronounced ee dah-shoor)
- French: chéri (pronounced shay-ree)
- German: Schatz (pronounced shahts)
- Spanish: querido (pronounced keh-ree-do)
- Italian: caro (pronounced kah-ro)
- Portuguese: querido (pronounced keh-ree-do)
- Dutch: schat (pronounced skat)
- Catalan: xicot (pronounced shee-kot)
- Swedish: älskling (pronounced el-skleeng)
- Danish: skat (pronounced skat)
- Norwegian: kjære (pronounced shay-reh)
- Finnish: rakas (pronounced rah-kahs)
- Icelandic: elskan (pronounced el-skan)
- Russian: дорогой (pronounced da-roh-goy)
- Polish: kochanie (pronounced koh-hah-nye)
- Czech: miláček (pronounced mil-ah-chek)
- Hungarian: kedves (pronounced ked-vesh)
- Slovak: miláčik (pronounced mila-chik)
- Ukrainian: дорогий (pronounced do-roh-hiy)
- Bulgarian: скъпо (pronounced skŭpo)
- Serbian: драги (pronounced dra-gee)
- Irish Gaelic: a ghrá (pronounced a ghra)
- Scottish Gaelic: mo ghrà (pronounced mo grah)
- Welsh: annwyl (pronounced an-wil)
- Basque: maitea (pronounced my-teh-ah)
- Maltese: ħabib (pronounced hab-ib)
- Chinese (Simplified): 亲爱的 (pronounced qīn ài de)
- Chinese (Traditional): 親愛的 (pronounced qīn ài de)
- Japanese: 恋人 (pronounced koibito)
- Korean: 애인 (pronounced aein)
- Hindi: प्रिय (pronounced priya)
- Bengali: প্রিয় (pronounced priyo)
- Tamil: அன்பு (pronounced anbu)
- Urdu: پیار (pronounced pyaar)
- Punjabi: ਪ੍ਰੀਤਮ (pronounced preetam)
- Telugu: ప్రియుడు (pronounced priyudu)
- Gujarati: પ્રિય (pronounced priya)
- Kannada: ಪ್ರಿಯ (pronounced priya)
- Thai: ที่รัก (pronounced thi rak)
- Vietnamese: người yêu (pronounced ngươi yêu)
- Indonesian: kekasih (pronounced keh-kah-sih)
- Malay: kekasih (pronounced keh-kah-sih)
- Khmer (Cambodian): ឪពុកស្នេហា (pronounced aupuk sneha)
- Burmese (Myanmar): ချစ်သူ (pronounced khit thu)
- Kazakh: сүйікті (pronounced süyikti)
- Uzbek: sevgilim (pronounced sev-gil-im)
- Turkmen: söýgi (pronounced so-ygi)
- Tajik: дӯст (pronounced dust)
- Arabic: عزيزي (pronounced azizi)
- Hebrew: sweetheart (pronounced yedid)
- Persian (Farsi): عزیز (pronounced aziz)
- Turkish: sevgili (pronounced sev-gili)
- Kurdish (Sorani): دلدار (pronounced deldar)
- Swahili: mpenzi (pronounced mpen-zee)
- Zulu: mkhulu (pronounced em-khoo-loo)
- Afrikaans: geliefde (pronounced ghe-lif-deh)
- Yoruba: olufẹ (pronounced o-loo-feh)
- Igbo: nwunye (pronounced nwun-ye)
- Hausa: masoyi (pronounced ma-so-yee)
- Somali: jaceyl (pronounced ja-ceyl)
- Filipino (Tagalog): mahal (pronounced ma-hal)
- Cebuano: hinigugma (pronounced hi-ni-goog-ma)
- Maori: tino (pronounced tee-no)
- Hawaiian: aloha (pronounced a-lo-ha)
- Javanese: kekasih (pronounced keh-kah-sih)
- Malagasy: malala (pronounced mah-lah-lah)
- Quechua: uyay (pronounced oo-yai)
- Navajo: ayóó anííníshní (approximate pronunciation ah-yo ah-nee-nee-shnee)
Pronunciation Guide and Cultural Insights
Tips for Proper Pronunciation
- Listen and Repeat: Use language learning apps or online platforms to hear native speakers pronounce “sweetheart.” This will help you understand the correct sounds and intonation.
- Use Phonetic Spelling: Refer to the phonetic guides for assistance with unfamiliar sounds.
- Practice Regularly: Consistent practice will enhance your pronunciation and confidence.
Cultural Significance
The word “sweetheart” carries diverse meanings across cultures:
- Affection and Tenderness: It often embodies love and care, reflecting a deep emotional connection.
- Cultural Traditions: The role and title of a sweetheart can vary significantly across different societies, reflecting unique traditions and customs.
Understanding how to say “sweetheart” in various languages facilitates communication and promotes cultural appreciation and awareness.
Usage Examples of “Sweetheart” in Different Languages
- Amharic (Ethiopia): ውድ (wid)
Usage: ውድ ማለት በልቤ ይታወሳል። (Wǝd malǝt bǝlǝbē yitawesal.)
(Translation: “Sweetheart, you are in my heart.”) - Georgian: საყვარელი (saq’vareli)
Usage: საყვარელი, რას აკეთებ? (Saq’vareli, ras aketeb?)
(Translation: “Sweetheart, what are you doing?”) - Mongolian: хайр (khair)
Usage: Миний хайр, би чамайг дуртай. (Minii khair, bi chamai durtai.)
(Translation: “My sweetheart, I love you.”) - Nepali: प्रिय (priya)
Usage: प्रिय, म तिमीलाई माया गर्छु। (Priya, ma timīlā’ī māyā garchu.)
(Translation: “Sweetheart, I love you.”) - Sinhala (Sri Lanka): ආදරෙයි (ādareyi)
Usage: ආදරෙයි, මට ඔබට පණිවුඩයක් තියෙන්න. (Ādareyi, maṭa obata paṇivuḍayak tiyenna.)
(Translation: “Sweetheart, I have a message for you.”) - Estonian: kallis (kallis)
Usage: Kallis, sa oled mu elu valgus. (Kallis, sa oled mu elu valgus.)
(Translation: “Sweetheart, you are the light of my life.”) - Latvian: mīļotais (mīļotais)
Usage: Mīļotais, vai tu nāksi uz balli? (Mīļotais, vai tu nāksi uz balli?)
(Translation: “Sweetheart, will you come to the party?”) - Lithuanian: mielasis (mielasis)
Usage: Mielasis, tu esi mano svajonė. (Mielasis, tu esi mano svajonė.)
(Translation: “Sweetheart, you are my dream.”) - Macedonian: сакан (sakan)
Usage: Сакан, ти си мојот свет. (Sakan, ti si mojot svet.)
(Translation: “Sweetheart, you are my world.”) - Armenian: սիրելին (sirelin)
Usage: Սիրելին, ես քեզ շատ եմ սիրում։ (Sirelin, yes k’ez shat yem sirum.)
(Translation: “Sweetheart, I love you very much.”) - Bosnian: dragi (dragi)
Usage: Dragi, trebaš li pomoć? (Dragi, trebaš li pomoć?)
(Translation: “Sweetheart, do you need help?”) - Albanian: i dashur (i dashur)
Usage: I dashur, do të shkojmë për një darkë. (I dashur, do të shkojmë për një darkë.)
(Translation: “Sweetheart, we will go out for dinner.”) - French: chéri (chéri)
Usage: Chéri, je pense à toi. (Chéri, je pense à toi.)
(Translation: “Sweetheart, I am thinking of you.”) - German: Schatz (Schatz)
Usage: Schatz, ich vermisse dich. (Schatz, ich vermisse dich.)
(Translation: “Sweetheart, I miss you.”) - Spanish: querido (querido)
Usage: Querido, te extraño mucho. (Querido, te extraño mucho.)
(Translation: “Sweetheart, I miss you a lot.”) - Italian: caro (caro)
Usage: Caro, dove sei stato? (Caro, dove sei stato?)
(Translation: “Sweetheart, where have you been?”) - Portuguese: querido (querido)
Usage: Querido, você é tudo para mim. (Querido, você é tudo para mim.)
(Translation: “Sweetheart, you are everything to me.”) - Dutch: schat (schat)
Usage: Schat, ik hou van jou. (Schat, ik hou van jou.)
(Translation: “Sweetheart, I love you.”) - Catalan: xicot (xicot)
Usage: Xicot, vull passar temps amb tu. (Xicot, vull passar temps amb tu.)
(Translation: “Sweetheart, I want to spend time with you.”) - Swedish: älskling (älskling)
Usage: Älskling, vad vill du göra? (Älskling, vad vill du göra?)
(Translation: “Sweetheart, what do you want to do?”) - Danish: skat (skat)
Usage: Skat, kan du hjælpe mig? (Skat, kan du hjælpe mig?)
(Translation: “Sweetheart, can you help me?”) - Norwegian: kjære (kjære)
Usage: Kjære, du betyr alt for meg. (Kjære, du betyr alt for meg.)
(Translation: “Sweetheart, you mean everything to me.”) - Finnish: rakas (rakas)
Usage: Rakas, olet sydämeni. (Rakas, olet sydämeni.)
(Translation: “Sweetheart, you are my heart.”) - Icelandic: elskan (elskana)
Usage: Elskan, ég elska þig. (Elskan, ég elska þig.)
(Translation: “Sweetheart, I love you.”) - Russian: дорогой (da-roh-goy)
Usage: Дорогой, ты мой свет. (Dorogoy, ty moy svet.)
(Translation: “Sweetheart, you are my light.”) - Polish: kochanie (kochanie)
Usage: Kochanie, przytul mnie. (Kochanie, przytul mnie.)
(Translation: “Sweetheart, hug me.”) - Czech: miláček (miláček)
Usage: Miláček, miluji tě. (Miláček, miluji tě.)
(Translation: “Sweetheart, I love you.”) - Hungarian: kedves (kedves)
Usage: Kedves, szeretlek. (Kedves, szeretlek.)
(Translation: “Sweetheart, I love you.”) - Slovak: miláčik (miláčik)
Usage: Miláčik, si môj život. (Miláčik, si môj život.)
(Translation: “Sweetheart, you are my life.”) - Ukrainian: дорогий (do-roh-hiy)
Usage: Дорогий, ти найкращий. (Dorohiy, ty naykrashchyy.)
(Translation: “Sweetheart, you are the best.”) - Bulgarian: скъпо (skŭpo)
Usage: Скъпо, как си? (Skŭpo, kak si?)
(Translation: “Sweetheart, how are you?”) - Serbian: драги (dragi)
Usage: Dragi, ti si moje srce. (Dragi, ti si moje srce.)
(Translation: “Sweetheart, you are my heart.”) - Irish Gaelic: a ghrá (a ghrá)
Usage: A ghrá, tá tú i mo chroí. (A ghrá, tá tú i mo chroí.)
(Translation: “Sweetheart, you are in my heart.”) - Scottish Gaelic: mo ghrà (mo ghrà)
Usage: Mo ghrà, is tu mo sholas. (Mo ghrà, is tu mo sholas.)
(Translation: “Sweetheart, you are my light.”) - Welsh: annwyl (annwyl)
Usage: Annwyl, dyma’r cyfan. (Annwyl, dyma’r cyfan.)
(Translation: “Sweetheart, here is everything.”) - Basque: maitea (maitea)
Usage: Maitea, zer moduz zaude? (Maitea, zer moduz zaude?)
(Translation: “Sweetheart, how are you?”) - Maltese: ħabib (ħabib)
Usage: Ħabib, inħobbok. (Ħabib, inħobbok.)
(Translation: “Sweetheart, I love you.”) - Korean: 사랑하는 사람 (salanghaneun saram)
Usage: 사랑하는 사람, 보고 싶어. (Salanghaneun saram, bogo sipeo.)
(Translation: “Sweetheart, I miss you.”) - Chinese (Mandarin): 亲爱的 (qīn’ài de)
Usage: 亲爱的，我想你。 (Qīn’ài de, wǒ xiǎng nǐ.)
(Translation: “Sweetheart, I miss you.”) - Japanese: 愛しい人 (itoshii hito)
Usage: 愛しい人、いつも思っています。 (Itoshii hito, itsumo omotte imasu.)
(Translation: “Sweetheart, I am always thinking of you.”)
Final Thoughts
Exploring how “sweetheart” is articulated in various languages reveals universal themes of love and affection. Each translation reflects a shared understanding of intimacy and connection while highlighting the beautiful diversity of expressions of love worldwide.
Reference: Harvard University Linguistics Department
