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Words To Love By

Part 2: The Vocabulary of Love

By , About.com Guide

How many ways can you say "love" in Spanish? Here are some of the most important ways, but there are others. In the lists of "love" as a noun or verb you will find alternative translations in parentheses following the Spanish word. In the list of phrases, the parentheses indicate the English phrases that include "love."

"Love" as a noun

  • afición (enthusiasm): Tiene afición por las cosas de su tierra. She has a love for the things of her land.
  • amado (sweetheart)
  • amante (sweetheart)
  • amistad (friendship)
  • amor (pure love, romantic love)
  • caridad (charity): Si yo hablase lenguas humanas y angélicas, y no tengo caridad .... If I speak in tongues of humans and angels, and have not love ....
  • cariño/a (sweetheart):
  • cero (score in tennis): Cero a cero. Love all.
  • pasión (passion, not necessarily romantic): Tiene una pasión por vivir, una pasión por saber. He has a love of living, a love of knowledge.
  • querido (sweetheart)
  • recuerdos (regards): Mándale recuerdos míos. Send him my love.

"Love" as a verb

  • amar (to love, to love romantically): Te amo. I love you.
  • encantar (indicating strong like): Me encanto escribir. I love to write.
  • gustar mucho (indicating strong like): Me gusta mucho este sofá. I love this sofa.
  • querer (to love romantically, to want): Te quiero. I love you.

Phrases using "love"

  • amarío (love affair)
  • amor a primera vista (love at first sight)
  • amor mío (my love)
  • aventura amorosa (love affair)
  • canción de amor (love song)
  • carta amatoria (love letter)
  • carta de amor (love letter)
  • enamorarse (to fall in love with): Me enamoré de una bruja. I fell in love with a witch.
  • estar enamorado (to be in love): Estoy enamorada de él. I am in love with him.
  • flechazo (love at first sight): Fue flechazo. It was love a first sight.
  • love story (historia de amor)
  • love token (prenda de amor)
  • hacer el amor (to make love)
  • lance de amor (love affair)
  • me quiere, no me quiere (she loves me, she loves me not)
  • mi amor (my love)
  • no se llevan bien (there is no love lost between them)
  • no se tienen ningún aprecio (there is no love lost between them)
  • periquito (love bird or parakeet)
  • por el amor de (for the love of): Por el amor de una rosa, el jardinero es servidor de mil espinas. For the love of a rose, the gardener is the servant of a thousand thorns.
  • por nada del mundo (not for love nor money)
  • por pura afición (for the pure love of it, just for the love of it): Toca el piano por pura afición. She plays the piano just for the love of it.
  • relaciones sexuales (love making)
  • vida sexual (love live)

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