Inklingo

How to Say "to charm" in Spanish

English → Spanish

seducir

seh-doo-SEERseðuˈθiɾ

verbB1general
Use 'seducir' when 'to charm' means to be very attractive or pleasing, often in a way that captivates someone's attention or desire.
A charming person offering a single red rose to another person under a warm streetlamp.

Examples

Ella sabe cómo seducir con su mirada.

She knows how to charm with her look.

El actor sedujo al público con su carisma.

The actor charmed the audience with his charisma.

Me sedujo la idea de viajar por todo el mundo.

I was tempted by the idea of traveling all over the world.

The 'Z' Sound in the Present

When talking about yourself in the present ('yo'), the 'c' changes to 'zc' to keep the sound right. So 'I seduce' is 'yo seduzco'.

The 'J' in the Past

When talking about things that happened in the past (the preterite), this word uses a 'j' sound. For example, 'he seduced' is 'él sedujo' and 'they seduced' is 'ellos sedujeron'.

Don't say 'seducieron'

Mistake: “Ellos seducieron a los clientes.”

Correction: Ellos sedujeron a los clientes. (Remember that verbs like this use the 'j' in the past and drop the 'i' in the 'ieron' ending).

Confusing with English Spelling

Mistake: “Él quiere seducer.”

Correction: Él quiere seducir. (Even though it ends in -uce in English, it's an -ir verb in Spanish).

enamorar

eh-nah-moh-rahrenamoˈɾaɾ

verbB2general
Use 'enamorar' when a place or thing captivates you, making you feel fond of it or fall in love with it.
A cozy, magical cottage tucked into a lush green forest with glowing windows.

Examples

Esa ciudad enamora a cualquiera que la visita.

That city charms anyone who visits it.

Su voz enamora al público.

Her voice enchants the audience.

Este paisaje enamora por sus colores.

This landscape captivates you with its colors.

Places as Subjects

When a thing or place 'enamorar' someone, the place is the one doing the action, just like 'the book interests me'.

robar

roh-BAHRroˈβaɾ

verbB2idiomatic
Use 'robar' in the idiomatic sense of 'to steal one's heart' or to captivate attention, often in a performance or event context.
A single, strikingly vibrant red rose sits on a pedestal. Beams of light, representing attention, flow from the eyes of a nearby stylized person directly towards the rose.

Examples

Ella se robó el show con su actuación.

She stole the show with her performance.

El corredor intentó robar la segunda base.

The runner tried to steal second base.

Antes de irse, él me robó un beso rápido.

Before leaving, he quickly stole a kiss from me.

Reflexive Use: Robarse

When used to mean 'steal the show' or 'monopolize attention,' 'robar' is often used with 'se' (robarse), indicating the person actively took the focus for themselves.

Distinguishing Seduce from Captivate

Learners often confuse 'seducir' and 'enamorar'. Remember that 'seducir' implies being attractive or pleasing, while 'enamorar' is used for places or things that captivate you, evoking a sense of fondness or love.

Related Translations

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