caro

/ˈka.ro/adjective / noun · masculineA1 / A2

Most common · Top 500

Meaning · adjective

dear; expensive

Ciao caro, come stai oggi?
Hi dear, how are you today?

Questo ristorante è troppo caro per noi.
This restaurant is too expensive for us.

Questo regalo è caro.
This gift is expensive.

Word forms (4)

Use 'caro' for people you love (e.g., 'mio caro amico'), but 'costoso' or 'dispendioso' for high prices.
Agrees in gender/number: 'caro' (m.s.), 'cara' (f.s.), 'cari' (m.pl.), 'care' (f.pl.).
In letters, 'Caro/a' is neutral/formal; 'Tesoro' or 'Amore' is more intimate.

darling

Ciao, caro, come stai oggi?
Hi, darling, how are you today?

Non chiamarmi caro davanti ai miei amici.
Don't call me darling in front of my friends.

Ieri il mio caro mi ha scritto.
Yesterday my darling wrote to me.

Word forms (2)

Word	Word forms
caro	masculine · singular
cari	masculine · plural

As a noun, caro is mostly a direct address: Ciao, caro. It sounds affectionate and is more common toward men.
Agree it with the person addressed: caro, cara, cari, care. Learners often forget the feminine form cara.
Compared with tesoro or amore, caro is milder and often less intimate; it can sound polite, warm, or slightly old-fashioned.