valentín
/vah-lehn-TEEN/
valentine
A "valentín" refers to a valentine or a token of affection, often a gift or card.
valentín(noun)
valentine
?a card, gift, or token of affection
sweetheart
?a romantic partner on this day
,date
?a person you are with on Valentine's Day
📝 In Action
Le compré un valentín muy bonito a mi novia.
B1I bought a very nice valentine (gift/card) for my girlfriend.
¿Quién será tu valentín este año?
B2Who will be your valentine (date/sweetheart) this year?
💡 Grammar Points
Masculine Noun
Even though the word refers to an abstract concept (a card or gift), it is always treated as masculine: 'el valentín'.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Confusing the Day and the Gift
Mistake: "Using 'valentín' when you mean the holiday, which is usually 'Día de San Valentín'."
Correction: Use 'el día de San Valentín' for the holiday, and 'el valentín' for the gift or person.
⭐ Usage Tips
Using the Diminutive
You can add '-cito' to make it sound even sweeter: 'un valentincito' (a little valentine).
The word "Valentín" also refers to Saint Valentine, the saint associated with love.
📝 In Action
San Valentín es el patrón de los enamorados.
B2Saint Valentine is the patron saint of lovers.
💡 Grammar Points
Proper Noun
When referring to the historical figure, it is capitalized and usually preceded by 'San' (Saint).
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: valentín
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence uses 'valentín' correctly to mean a romantic gift?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'valentín' used to refer to the whole holiday?
No, usually not. The holiday is almost always referred to as 'el Día de San Valentín' or sometimes just 'San Valentín.' 'Valentín' by itself usually means the gift, card, or the person you spend the day with.
Is 'valentín' a common Spanish name?
Yes, Valentín is a traditional Spanish male name, though perhaps less common today than other names. When used as a proper name, it is capitalized.