ama
/AH-mah/
loves
This image illustrates "ama" as the verb meaning 'loves'.
ama(Verb)
loves
?He/She/It/You formal loves
cherishes
?Has deep affection for
,is fond of
?Likes very much
📝 In Action
Mi abuela ama las flores de su jardín.
A1My grandmother loves the flowers in her garden.
Él ama el deporte y la vida sana.
A1He loves sport and a healthy life.
Usted ama la música clásica, ¿verdad?
A2You (formal) love classical music, right?
💡 Grammar Points
Use of the Personal 'A'
When 'ama' is used to love a person, pet, or personalized entity, you must place the small word 'a' right after the verb: 'Ella ama a su esposo' (She loves her husband).
❌ Common Pitfalls
Confusing Verb forms
Mistake: "Using 'yo ama' instead of 'yo amo' or 'tú ama' instead of 'tú amas'."
Correction: Remember that 'ama' is only for 'he, she, it, or you (formal)'. The 'yo' form always ends in -o ('amo').
⭐ Usage Tips
Formal vs. Familiar 'You'
Since 'ama' is the form for él/ella/usted, it is used when you are speaking formally to someone ('Usted ama...') or when talking about someone ('Ella ama...').
This image illustrates "ama" as the noun meaning 'mistress' or 'female head of a household'.
ama(Noun)
mistress
?The female head or owner of a household
,housekeeper
?Professional staff overseeing domestic duties (usually 'ama de llaves')
landlady
?Owner of rental property (regional)
,nursemaid
?Wet nurse or caregiver (archaic, 'ama de cría')
📝 In Action
Mi madre es ama de casa y cuida de nosotros.
A2My mother is a housewife and takes care of us.
La joven trabajó como ama de llaves en la mansión.
B2The young woman worked as a housekeeper in the mansion.
💡 Grammar Points
Compound Nouns
'Ama' is most frequently seen today as the first part of a fixed phrase describing a specific job related to running a household or overseeing keys/children.
⭐ Usage Tips
Avoiding Confusion
If you use 'ama' as a noun, always include the phrase that follows ('de casa', 'de llaves') to make your meaning clear, otherwise people will assume you are using the verb form ('he/she loves').
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: ama
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence uses 'ama' as a noun (a person's job)?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know if 'ama' means 'loves' or 'housekeeper'?
You can tell by the words around it. If it’s followed by 'a' or a direct object (like 'chocolate'), it's usually the verb ('loves'). If it’s followed immediately by 'de casa' or 'de llaves', it's the noun ('housekeeper/housewife').
Is 'ama' the same as 'amá' (with an accent)?
No. While they sound very similar, 'ama' is the verb/noun we defined here. 'Amá' (used regionally, often in Central America) is sometimes used informally as a shortened, affectionate version of 'mamá' (mom).