Inklingo

How to Say "smitten" in Spanish

English → Spanish

enamorado

eh-nah-moh-RAH-dohena.moˈɾa.ðo

adjectiveA2general
Use this when you mean 'in love' or 'deeply fond' in a romantic sense, implying a significant emotional connection.
A person smiling brightly and looking joyful, with three stylized pink hearts floating around their head, symbolizing the state of being deeply in love.

Examples

¿Estás enamorado de tu nueva vecina?

Are you in love with your new neighbor (f.)?

Mi hermana está enamorada de la música clásica.

My sister is in love with classical music.

Parecen tan enamorados cuando se miran.

They look so in love when they look at each other.

Use with 'Estar' (To Be)

To say someone IS in love, always use the verb 'estar' because it describes a current, often changing, emotional state, not a permanent part of their personality.

Required Preposition

You must follow 'enamorado' with the preposition 'de' (of) to say who or what someone is in love with. It does not use 'con' (with).

Using 'Ser'

Mistake: “Él es enamorado.”

Correction: Él está enamorado. (This corrects the mistake of treating 'in love' as a permanent quality using 'ser'.)

templado

tem-PLAH-dohtemˈplaðo

adjectiveB1general
This term suggests being quite smitten or having a crush, often used for a strong, sometimes sudden, infatuation.
A person looking at a heart-shaped flower with a dreamy expression.

Examples

Juan está muy templado de su compañera de clase.

Juan is very smitten with his classmate.

Se nota que estás templada por él.

It's obvious that you have a crush on him.

pillado

pee-YAH-dohpiˈʎa.ðo

adjectiveC1informal
Use this informal term to express being strongly attracted or 'crushing' on someone, often with a sense of being caught up in the feeling.
A young character with wide eyes and a dazed, dreamy expression, surrounded by three large, floating pink hearts, symbolizing being deeply attracted.

Examples

Creo que estoy pillado por mi nuevo vecino. No puedo dejar de mirarlo.

I think I'm crushing on my new neighbor. I can't stop looking at him.

Mi hermana está totalmente pillada por ese cantante famoso.

My sister is totally smitten with that famous singer.

The Preposition 'Por'

When talking about who you are crushing on, you must use the preposition 'por' (by/for): 'Estoy pillado por María' (I am crushing on Maria).

Overusing in Formal Settings

Mistake: “El director está pillado por la nueva política.”

Correction: Use 'fascinado' (fascinated) instead. This meaning of 'pillado' is too informal for professional contexts.

Choosing Between 'Enamorado' and 'Pillado'

The most common mistake is using the informal 'pillado' in formal situations or when the feeling is a deep, established love, which is better expressed by 'enamorado'. 'Enamorado' implies a more profound and serious romantic connection than the casual attraction of 'pillado'.

Related Translations

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