How to Say "enthusiast" in Spanish
The most common Spanish word for “enthusiast” is “aficionado” — use 'aficionado' for someone who loves a specific hobby or activity, often with a sense of dedication.
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.
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'.
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.
fan
fahnfan
Examples
Ella es una gran fan de los libros de ciencia ficción.
She is a big fan of science fiction books.
Los fans hicieron fila toda la noche para ver la película.
The fans lined up all night to see the movie.
Mi hermano es el fan número uno de ese equipo de fútbol.
My brother is the number one fan of that soccer team.
Gender Usage
"Fan" is the same word whether you are talking about a man (el fan) or a woman (la fan). Only the article (el/la) changes to match the person's gender.
Plural Form
Mistake: “Using *fanes* as the plural.”
Correction: The correct plural is *fans*, following the English spelling, which is accepted in Spanish. Example: *los fans*.
fanático
Examples
Mi hermano es un fanático del Real Madrid.
My brother is a Real Madrid fan.
entusiasta
en-too-syas-tahentuˈsjasta
Examples
Él es un entusiasta del cine clásico.
He is a classic cinema enthusiast.
La convención reunió a miles de entusiastas de la tecnología.
The convention gathered thousands of technology enthusiasts.
Como entusiasta de la cocina, siempre compro especias nuevas.
As a cooking enthusiast, I always buy new spices.
Using 'de'
When you are an enthusiast 'of' something, always use the word 'de' after entusiasta.
Missing the 'the'
Mistake: “Soy entusiasta de música.”
Correction: Soy entusiasta de la música. In Spanish, we usually include 'the' (el/la) when talking about a general topic you like.
apasionado
ah-pah-syoh-NAH-dohapasjoˈnaðo
Examples
Es un apasionado de los coches clásicos.
He is a classic car enthusiast.
Como apasionado de la cocina, siempre pruebo recetas nuevas.
As a cooking enthusiast, I'm always trying new recipes.
Los apasionados del fútbol llenaron el estadio.
The soccer fans filled the stadium.
Connecting to the Subject
When used as a noun, it is almost always followed by 'de' to indicate the area of interest (e.g., 'un apasionado de la historia').
Don't forget the 'de'
Mistake: “Es un apasionado la música.”
Correction: Say 'Es un apasionado DE la música'. In Spanish, you need 'de' to connect the person to their hobby.
amante
ah-MAHN-tehaˈman.te
Examples
Mi abuelo siempre fue un gran amante de la ópera.
My grandfather was always a great lover of opera.
Los amantes de la naturaleza se reúnen aquí cada primavera.
Nature lovers gather here every spring.
Gender is Set by the Article
Even though the word 'amante' ends in '-e', it doesn't change form. You use 'el' for a male enthusiast ('el amante de la música') and 'la' for a female enthusiast ('la amante de la lectura').
Aficionado vs. Fanático
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