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Words To Love By

Part 2: The Vocabulary of Love

By Gerald Erichsen, About.com

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)
Gerald Erichsen
Guide since 1998

Gerald Erichsen
Spanish Language Guide

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