A heartwarming depiction of a mother gently embracing her young child, illustrating deep affection and unconditional love.

amor

/ah-mor/

NounmA1

love?deep affection for a person, family, or thing

Also:affection?a feeling of fondness,passion?strong enthusiasm for an activity or concept

📝 In Action

El amor de una madre es incondicional.

A mother's love is unconditional.

Siento un gran amor por ti.

I feel a great love for you.

Tiene un amor increíble por la música clásica.

He has an incredible love for classical music.

Mi abuela es un amor de persona.

My grandmother is a sweetheart of a person.

Word Connections

Synonyms

cariño (affection)
afecto (affection)
pasión (passion)

Antonyms

odio (hatred)
indiferencia (indifference)

Common Collocations

amor a primera vista – love at first sight
hacer el amor – to make love
carta de amor – love letter
por amor al arte – for the love of it (without being paid)

Idioms & Expressions

morir de amor – to be head over heels in love

💡 Grammar Points

Always Masculine: 'el amor'

Even when you're talking about love for a woman or something seen as feminine, the word 'amor' itself is always masculine. So, you'll always say 'el amor' (the love) or 'un amor' (a love).

❌ Common Pitfalls

Using 'amor' for Everyday 'Likes'

Mistake: "Tengo amor por la pizza."

Correction: Me encanta la pizza. 'Amor' is a very strong word, usually saved for people, pets, or deep passions like art or music. For everyday things you enjoy, even a lot, it's more natural to use 'me gusta' (I like) or 'me encanta' (I love/adore).

⭐ Usage Tips

Calling Someone 'mi amor'

You can call someone you love 'mi amor' (my love). It's very common between romantic partners, and also for parents to say to their children. It works just like 'my darling' or 'sweetheart' in English.

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: amor

Question 1 of 1

Which of these sentences uses 'amor' in the most natural way?

📚 More Resources

Word Family

amar(to love) - verb

enamorado/a(in love) - adjective

amoroso/a(loving, affectionate) - adjective

amante(lover) - noun

enamorarse(to fall in love) - verb

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the difference between 'amor' and 'cariño'?

'Amor' is the big one—deep, profound love. 'Cariño' is more like affection, fondness, or tenderness. You feel 'amor' for your partner, but you might show them 'cariño' with a hug.

Can I use 'amor' to describe a person?

Yes, absolutely! If you say someone 'es un amor', you're saying they are a sweetheart or a darling. It's a very warm compliment.