In Spanish, you’ll usually say “Eres mi favorito” (to a man) or “Eres mi favorita” (to a woman), with a few softer options that fit different settings.
English has one handy phrase for “you’re my favorite.” Spanish has choices, and each one carries a slightly different vibe. Pick the right one and it lands sweet. Pick the wrong one and it can sound odd, overly intense, or plain ungrammatical.
This piece shows you the most natural ways to say it, how gender and number change the words, and what native speakers tend to say when they want it to feel warm without sounding like a cheesy movie line.
What the phrase means and why Spanish offers options
When you call someone your favorite, you’re ranking them above others. That can be playful (“you’re my favorite coworker”), affectionate (“you’re my favorite person”), or romantic (“you’re my favorite, full stop”). Spanish expresses the same idea, but it often spells out what the person is “favorite” of: favorite person, favorite of the group, favorite choice.
That’s why you’ll hear both direct lines like Eres mi favorito and slightly fuller ones like Eres mi persona favorita. Neither is “more correct” in a vacuum. The best pick depends on who you’re talking to and what you’re trying to imply.
Saying ‘You Are My Favourite in Spanish’ in real conversations
The most straightforward translation is:
- Eres mi favorito. (speaking to a man)
- Eres mi favorita. (speaking to a woman)
Grammatically, favorito/favorita is an adjective. Spanish adjectives match the gender and number of what they describe. That’s why the ending changes when you switch from one person to a group.
Swaps for gender and number
Here are the forms you’ll actually use:
- favorito (masculine singular)
- favorita (feminine singular)
- favoritos (masculine plural or mixed group)
- favoritas (feminine plural)
That might feel like grammar class, but it matters because the wrong ending stands out right away. It’s like saying “you is” in English: people still get your meaning, but it sounds off.
When the direct line can sound intense
Eres mi favorito/a can sound romantic in the right context. It can also sound like you’re comparing someone to other people in a way that invites follow-up questions. If you’re speaking to a friend or a relative, many speakers choose a softer noun phrase instead.
One popular option is Eres mi persona favorita. It’s natural, it reads as affectionate, and it doesn’t feel like you’re staging a competition.
Natural ways to say it without sounding forced
Spanish gives you room to dial the tone up or down. Here are options you’ll hear in everyday speech.
Warm and general
- Eres mi persona favorita. Works for friends, partners, family.
- Eres de mis favoritos/as. “You’re one of my favorites.” Friendly, less intense.
- Me caes genial. “I like you a lot.” Great for friends, not romantic by default.
Romantic, but still natural
- Me encantas. Strong liking, often romantic.
- Estoy loco/loca por ti. High-intensity; save it for someone you’re close to.
Playful, for a specific category
- Eres mi actor favorito / mi cantante favorita. Favorite in a category.
- Eres mi profe favorito/a. Common in class banter.
- Este es mi café favorito. For objects and things you like.
If you want a quick meaning check, the RAE dictionary defines favorito as “estimado y apreciado con preferencia.” You can see that on the Diccionario de la lengua española entry for “favorito, ta”.
Common patterns you can copy and tweak
Memorizing one fixed sentence is fine, but Spanish gets easier when you learn a pattern you can swap parts in and out of.
Pattern 1: “My favorite + noun”
This is the safest, most flexible structure:
- Eres mi amigo favorito.
- Eres mi amiga favorita.
- Eres mi persona favorita.
Notice what’s changing. The noun and the adjective match: amigo favorito, amiga favorita. If the noun is plural, the adjective goes plural too: mis amigos favoritos.
Pattern 2: “One of my favorites”
If you want the compliment without the ranking drama:
- Eres de mis favoritos. (to a man or to a member of a mixed group)
- Eres de mis favoritas. (to a woman)
This one is handy at work or in casual groups. It praises without implying everyone else lost.
Pattern 3: “I like you a lot” (non-ranking)
Sometimes “favorite” is not what you mean. If what you mean is “I like you,” say that:
- Me caes muy bien. Friendly and common.
- Me gustas. Often romantic when said to a person.
- Me gustas mucho. Stronger, still simple.
These avoid comparisons entirely. They can feel kinder in mixed groups.
Table 1: Pick the best Spanish line for your situation
| Spanish phrase | Best use | Notes on tone |
|---|---|---|
| Eres mi favorito / Eres mi favorita | Romance, close friendships | Direct “top pick” vibe; can feel intense in groups |
| Eres mi persona favorita | Partners, friends, family | Warm and natural; avoids the “competing” feel |
| Eres de mis favoritos/as | Work, classmates, new friends | Compliment without ranking everyone else below |
| Me caes genial | Friends, casual settings | Friendly “I like you”; not romantic by default |
| Me encantas | Dating, flirting | Stronger affection; sounds personal and direct |
| Eres mi + [noun] favorito/a | Specific categories | Great when the “favorite” category is clear (actor, teacher, etc.) |
| Me gustas | Romantic interest | Often reads as “I’m into you,” not “I like you as a friend” |
| Te quiero mucho | Family, close friends, partners | Affectionate; meaning shifts by region and relationship |
Small grammar choices that change the meaning
A lot of “this sounds weird” moments come from tiny grammar mismatches. Fixing them gives you native-level polish fast.
Adjective agreement: match what you’re describing
The Real Academia Española sums up adjective agreement in its guidance on concordancia entre adjetivo y sustantivo: the adjective copies the noun’s gender and number.
If you say Eres mi persona favorito, it clashes because persona is feminine, so the adjective should be favorita. Spanish agreement follows the noun you use, not the person’s gender. That’s why persona stays feminine even if you’re talking about a man.
More than one noun: which ending wins?
If one adjective describes two nouns, Spanish has patterns for that too. The RAE’s Diccionario panhispánico de dudas entry on concordancia explains common agreement choices, like using plural, and using masculine plural when the nouns are mixed-gender.
You’ll hear that in real phrases like mi amigo y mi vecino favoritos. It’s a small detail, but it keeps your Spanish sounding clean.
Ser and estar with compliments
When you say Eres mi favorito, you’re using ser because you’re stating an identity or role in your eyes. The RAE’s grammar note on atributos con ser y estar explains how ser often marks characteristics or classification in copular sentences.
With feelings that come and go, Spanish often reaches for other verbs: me gustas, me encantas, te quiero. Those can sound more personal than “favorite,” depending on your tone.
“Favorito” vs “preferido”
Learners ask if preferido is safer. It can work, but it often sounds more like a conscious choice between options. Favorito is the everyday word for “favorite” in tastes, people, and picks.
If you do use preferido, it’s most natural with categories: mi opción preferida, mi restaurante preferido. For a person, many speakers still reach for persona favorita or de mis favoritos/as.
What to write in formal Spanish
If you’re speaking formally, you’ll likely use usted. The structure stays the same; the verb changes:
- Usted es mi persona favorita.
- Usted es de mis favoritos.
This is common when you’re praising a teacher, a mentor, or someone older. It can sound respectful and warm at the same time, as long as the context is friendly.
Table 2: Fast fixes for common mistakes
| What you wrote | Better Spanish | Why it reads better |
|---|---|---|
| Eres mi favorita (to a man) | Eres mi favorito | The adjective matches who you’re addressing |
| Eres mi favorito persona | Eres mi persona favorita | Word order and agreement match normal usage |
| Tu eres mi favorito | Eres mi favorito | Subject pronouns are often dropped in Spanish |
| Eres mi más favorito | Eres mi favorito | “Most favorite” sounds unnatural in Spanish too |
| Es mi favorito (to a person, face to face) | Eres mi favorito | Use “eres” when speaking directly to “you” |
| Eres mi favorito de todos | Eres mi favorito de todos mis amigos | Specify the group so it doesn’t feel abrupt |
Putting it together in messages you can send
Here are short templates you can copy into a text. Swap the noun or add a detail that matches your relationship.
Texting a friend
- Eres de mis favoritos, en serio.
- Me caes genial. Siempre me alegra verte.
- Eres mi persona favorita para hablar de todo.
Texting a partner
- Eres mi persona favorita.
- Me encantas.
- Eres mi favorito y me haces sonreír.
Playful compliment at work or school
- Eres mi profe favorito/a.
- Eres de mis favoritos del equipo.
- Hoy te luciste. Me caes genial.
If you’re worried about sounding too strong, use the “one of my favorites” version. It’s easy, it’s kind, and it keeps the mood light.
One last check before you hit send
Run through these three questions:
- Who am I talking to? Friend, partner, coworker, family.
- Do I want a ranking? If not, choose me caes genial or de mis favoritos/as.
- Did I match the endings? Favorito/favorita/favoritos/favoritas.
Once those are set, your Spanish will sound natural and confident, and the compliment will land the way you meant it.
References & Sources
- Real Academia Española (RAE).“favorito, ta | Diccionario de la lengua española.”Defines “favorito/a” and its meaning related to preference.
- Real Academia Española (RAE).“Concordancia entre adjetivo y sustantivo.”Shows how adjectives match the gender and number of the noun they modify.
- Real Academia Española (RAE) & ASALE.“concordancia | Diccionario panhispánico de dudas.”Gives agreement patterns, including cases with coordinated nouns.
- Real Academia Española (RAE) & ASALE.“Atributos con ser y estar | Nueva gramática básica.”Explains how “ser” and “estar” behave with attributes in Spanish sentences.