Inklingo

How to Say "enthusiast" in Spanish

English → Spanish

aficionado

/ah-fee-thyo-NAH-doh//afiθjoˈnaðo/

nounA2general
Use 'aficionado' when referring to someone who has a deep love for and actively participates in a specific hobby or activity, often with a sense of dedication.
A person wearing a colorful jersey and a matching scarf, cheering enthusiastically with hands in the air.

Examples

Mi abuelo es un gran aficionado a la jardinería.

My grandfather is a big gardening enthusiast.

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

/fahn//fan/

nounB1general
Choose 'fan' for someone who is a devoted admirer or follower of a particular subject, team, or celebrity, often expressing their support publicly.
A cartoon illustration showing a smiling person enthusiastically raising their arms, dressed in simple red and white fan gear, representing an admirer or supporter.

Examples

Soy un fan de esa banda desde hace años.

I've been a fan of that band for years.

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

nounA2general
Employ 'fanático' when describing someone with an extreme, sometimes excessive, level of interest or devotion to a particular activity, cause, or belief.

Examples

Mi primo es un fanático del fútbol y ve todos los partidos.

My cousin is a football fanatic and watches all the games.

Aficionado vs. Fanático

Be careful when choosing between 'aficionado' and 'fanático'. While both imply strong interest, 'fanático' can sometimes suggest an obsessive or even irrational level of devotion, whereas 'aficionado' is generally more positive and implies a genuine passion for a hobby.

Related Translations

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