aficionado
/ah-fee-thyo-NAH-doh/
fan
An aficionado is a passionate fan of a sport or a team.
aficionado(noun)
fan
?a person who likes a sport or team
,enthusiast
?someone who loves a specific hobby
amateur
?someone who does an activity for fun, not as a job
📝 In Action
Mi hermano es un gran aficionado al Real Madrid.
A2My brother is a big Real Madrid fan.
Los aficionados llenaron el estadio para ver el partido.
B1The fans filled the stadium to watch the game.
💡 Grammar Points
Using the 'a' link
When you want to say what you are a fan of, always use 'a' (to) followed by the thing you love. For example: 'aficionado a la música'.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Don't forget the 'a'
Mistake: "Soy aficionado la fotografía."
Correction: Soy aficionado a la fotografía. You need the 'a' to connect the person to the interest.
⭐ Usage Tips
Aficionado vs. Fan
While people use 'fan' in Spanish for celebrities or pop stars, 'aficionado' is much more common for sports teams or hobbies like gardening or cooking.
An aficionado can also be an amateur who practices an activity for the love of it.
aficionado(adjective)
amateur
?non-professional
,fond of
?describing an interest
keen
?showing great interest
📝 In Action
Juan es un fotógrafo aficionado, pero sus fotos son increíbles.
B1Juan is an amateur photographer, but his photos are incredible.
Él es muy aficionado a la cocina italiana.
A2He is very fond of Italian cooking.
💡 Grammar Points
Describing People
Use this word after a noun to describe someone's hobby level (e.g., 'músico aficionado').
⭐ Usage Tips
Positive Vibe
Unlike the word 'amateur' in English, which can sometimes mean 'unskilled,' 'aficionado' is almost always positive, showing that someone does something because they truly love it.
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: aficionado
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence correctly says 'I am a cinema fan'?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Does 'aficionado' mean the same thing in English?
Yes! English actually borrowed this word from Spanish. In both languages, it describes someone who is very knowledgeable and enthusiastic about a specific subject.
Is 'aficionado' always masculine?
No, if you are talking about a woman, you change the 'o' to an 'a' and say 'aficionada'.