A Welsh term of endearment meaning darling or beloved, used in Wales both in Welsh-language contexts and in Welsh English. It is commonly heard as an affectionate address between partners, parents and children, or close friends. Its use in Welsh English signals Welsh cultural identity and warmth, much like 'hen' in Yorkshire or 'pet' in Geordie English. The word alone signals Welsh identity.
Come and have a cup of tea, cariad -- you look exhausted.
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Welsh for 'darling' or 'sweetheart', this term of endearment is as soft and warm as the Welsh hills. Used freely in Wales to address loved ones, friends, or even strangers in a kind way — it's one of those words that feels like a verbal hug. As Welsh culture has gained wider appreciation in the UK and beyond, cariad has started to appear in everyday speech outside Wales too. If someone calls you cariad, take it as a genuine term of affection.
Don't worry, cariad — it'll all work out in the end, you'll see.
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(Welsh) Darling.
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Add your own interpretation of "cariad".
Regional slang from around the English-speaking world — British, Australian, Irish, Caribbean, Nigerian, Filipino, AAVE, and the hyphenated-English dialects that make the internet sound local.
See all Regional & Other slang on Slangora.