How to Say "amateur" in Spanish
The most common Spanish word for “amateur” is “aficionado” — use 'aficionado' as a noun when referring to someone who is a fan or enthusiast of something, like a sports team or a hobby, emphasizing their passion and enjoyment.
aficionado
ah-fee-thyo-NAH-dohafiθjoˈnaðo
Examples
Mi hermano es un gran aficionado al Real Madrid.
My brother is a big Real Madrid fan.
Los aficionados llenaron el estadio para ver el partido.
The fans filled the stadium to watch the game.
Juan es un fotógrafo aficionado, pero sus fotos son increíbles.
Juan is an amateur photographer, but his photos are incredible.
Él es muy aficionado a la cocina italiana.
He is very fond of Italian cooking.
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'.
Describing People
Use this word after a noun to describe someone's hobby level (e.g., 'músico aficionado').
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.
aficionado
ah-fee-thyo-NAH-dohafiθjoˈnaðo
Examples
Juan es un fotógrafo aficionado, pero sus fotos son increíbles.
Juan is an amateur photographer, but his photos are incredible.
Mi hermano es un gran aficionado al Real Madrid.
My brother is a big Real Madrid fan.
Los aficionados llenaron el estadio para ver el partido.
The fans filled the stadium to watch the game.
Él es muy aficionado a la cocina italiana.
He is very fond of Italian cooking.
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'.
Describing People
Use this word after a noun to describe someone's hobby level (e.g., 'músico aficionado').
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.
amateur
ah-mah-TEHRamaˈteuɾ
Examples
Él es un fotógrafo amateur muy talentoso.
He is a very talented amateur photographer.
Jugamos en una liga de fútbol amateur los domingos.
We play in an amateur soccer league on Sundays.
La película tiene un estilo amateur que la hace parecer muy real.
The movie has an amateur style that makes it seem very real.
A Word for Everyone
Unlike many Spanish adjectives, 'amateur' usually stays the same whether you are talking about a man or a woman (un actor amateur / una actriz amateur).
The Plural Trick
Because this is a borrowed word, people often say 'amateurs' for the plural, even though standard Spanish rules would usually add '-es'.
The 'Fan' Confusion
Mistake: “Using 'amateur' to mean you just like something.”
Correction: Use 'aficionado' if you are a fan of a team, but use 'amateur' if you are the one playing the sport without getting paid.
Aficionado vs. Amateur
Related Translations
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