Spanish offers multiple ways to express love and affection, each with subtle differences in meaning and usage. Understanding these distinctions will help you communicate your feelings more precisely in Spanish. Let's explore the three main verbs used to express love in Spanish.

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The Verb Amar: Deep Affection ❤️

The verb amar ("to love") expresses deep, profound love. It's easy to remember because it shares Latin roots with English words like "amorous" and "enamored." This verb is often used for romantic love or other deep emotional attachments.

Si supieras lo mucho que te amo

If you knew how much I love you

Caption 15, Ozomatli - Jardinero

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The Verb Querer: Versatile Love 🤗

Querer is a versatile verb that means both "to love" (someone) and "to want" (something). It's commonly used to express affection between family members, romantic partners, and close friends. You've probably heard expressions like Te quiero ("I love you") and Yo quiero tacos ("I want tacos").

Siento que cada día te quiero más

I feel that each day I love you more

Caption 27, Alberto Barros - Mano a mano

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The Verb Encantar: Enthusiastic Appreciation ✨

Encantar (literally "to enchant") expresses enthusiasm or strong liking for something or someone. It functions similarly to gustar (to like), meaning the verb agrees with the object being loved, not with the person who has the feeling.

For example:

- Me encanta esta ciudad ("I love this city")
- Me encantan esos pantalones ("I love those pants")

Notice how the verb changes from singular (encanta) to plural (encantan) to match the object (city/pants), not the speaker.

La verdad es que mi trabajo me encanta.

The truth is that I love my job.

Caption 39, Carlos Quintana - Guía de musica latina

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When to Use Each Verb

Here's a quick guide to help you choose the right verb for different situations:

❤️ Amar... for deep, serious expressions of love, especially romantic love

🤗 Querer... for everyday expressions of affection toward family, friends, and partners

✨ Encantar... when expressing enthusiasm for things, activities, or qualities

Understanding these distinctions will help you express your feelings more accurately in Spanish and avoid potential misunderstandings in conversations.

That's all for this lesson on expressing love in Spanish! We hope you've found it helpful. Have you used these verbs before? Do you have any questions about when to use each one? Don't forget to send us your questions and suggestions!

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