You can say caro to a boyfriend in Italian if he’s male, or cara if you mean a girlfriend. For a more affectionate, romantic feel, Italians also often say caro mio or amore mio.

Common options

  • Caro = dear/honey for a man.
  • Cara = dear/honey for a woman.
  • Caro mio = my dear, said to a man.
  • Cara mia = my dear, said to a woman.
  • Amore mio = my love, more romantic than “dear.”

Example

  • Caro, come stai? = Dear, how are you?
  • Amore mio, ti penso sempre. = My love, I’m always thinking of you.

Small note

If you want something sweet but not overly intense, caro mio is a good choice. If you want stronger romance, amore mio sounds more affectionate.