language: pet names

Similar to English, in Spanish, people use pet names for their loved ones. I have noticed this a lot with the baby that my host madre takes care of. She calls him a few things that I have caught on to:

cariño-honey

nene (nay nay)- I'm not sure of the actual translation, but I do know it is used for grandchildren.

guapo- handsome

chiquitin- cutie

campeón- champion (when he finishes his food)

amor- love

señor- sir

Something else I learned today is that here, people do not commonly say "lo siento" (I'm sorry) the way we do in the United States. My host parents actually called me out on it, and said that I have no need to say "I'm sorry". The way they described it sounded like saying "I'm sorry" was a very strong, serious phrase insatead of the casual "I'm sorry" I am used to. (When bumping into someone, getting in someone's way, spilling a drink...)

Instead, they told me to use words like:

disculpame (excuse me)

perdoname (pardon me)

de acuerdo (got it, when being "scolded")

or nothing at all.