encantar
“encantar” means “to love (something/doing something)” in Spanish (strong enjoyment, like 'to be crazy about').
to love (something/doing something)Also: to delight, to be enchanting
📝 In Action
Me encanta la pizza.
A1I love pizza. (Literally: Pizza delights me.)
¿Te encantan los libros de fantasía?
A2Do you love fantasy books?
Nos encantó el concierto de anoche.
A2We loved last night's concert.
A mis padres les encanta viajar en tren.
B1My parents love traveling by train.
Word Connections
Subjunctive
Imperfect Subjunctive
Present Subjunctive
Indicative
Imperfect
Present
Preterite
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Words that translate to "encantar" in Spanish:
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: encantar
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence correctly expresses 'My sister loves classical music'?
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📚 Etymology
From the Latin word *incantare*, meaning 'to sing a magic formula over' or 'to cast a spell upon.' This is why the literal translation of 'encantar' is 'to enchant'—what delights you feels like magic!
First recorded: 13th century (in Spanish)
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use 'encantar' to say 'I love my husband'?
Not usually. 'Encantar' is used for strong liking of things or activities. For romantic love or deep familial attachment, you should use 'amar' or 'querer' (e.g., 'Quiero a mi esposo').
Is 'encantar' a stem-changing verb?
No, 'encantar' is a regular '-ar' verb. It follows the standard conjugation patterns, unlike verbs like 'preferir' or 'poder'.