encantar

to love

verb en-kahn-TAHR Less Common

Also means

to enchant

Usage Note

Encantar is used like gustar — the subject is the thing loved, not the person: me encanta el café (I love coffee, literally 'coffee enchants me'). This gustar-type construction trips up English speakers who try to use it as a transitive verb. The literal sense of enchanting or casting a spell also exists but is less common.

Examples

"Me encantan las películas de aventura."

Natural Translation

I love adventure movies.

Literal Translation

To-me enchant the adventure movies.

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