Colombian expressions of affection

One area where Colombians differ from Europeans, and I dare say this is true about most Latin Americans, is the way they express affection verbally.

The most common form of addressing another family member in Colombia is probably mi amor, my love, which is how spouses usually call each other, but it is just as often used for the kids. An even stronger expression is mi vida, "my life". Other common spouse ones: cariño (affection), mi cielo (my heaven), mi corazon (my heart).

Toward kids princesa (princess), tesoro (treasure), precioso/preciosa (precious) are totally normal, and also papito and mamacita which are diminutive forms of "mum/dad" but used for kids.

One that still surprises me is gordo/gorda which literally means "fat" but which is a way of showing love and acception toward a spouse or kid.

In male friendships, hermano is very common ("brother") and among girls you will often hear linda, hermosa etc where they remind themselves of their beauty. Toward a friend of the opposite sex querido or querida are totally normal, which mean "liked".

Also in street life you will hear words of affection, for example in Medellin are common hermano even for people not known, as well as mi hijo or mi hija, my son / my daughter, but not toward the kids in this case, but among friends or toward a younger person.

In all informal relationships diminutives can be used to express affection; this is done by adding -ito or -ita to the name or the word, like Anita for Ana, or corazoncito for "my little heart".

Toward an older person reverence is shown through using don and doña before the name (i.e Don Alfonso, Doña Lucía), and of course always usted (formal "you") for an older person and for people not known.

Colombians alternate between three forms of "you", which are usted, tu and vos, in order of acquaintance. These have regional differences within the country. Even in the closest marital relationship, the formal usted is not uncommon, to show respect.

For a Northern European, living among these expressions of affection is humbling, we have a lot to learn from our Latin friends of how to show kindness, care and honor simply by words.