Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| enamoramiento | /enamoɾaˈmjento/ | masculine |
| flechazo | /fleˈt͡ʃaθo/ /fleˈt͡ʃaso/ |
masculine |
These words refer to a love or infatuation, often one that is short-lived or unrequited.
What does it mean word for word?
The term flechazo literally refers to an arrow strike or being shot from an arrow, evoking the idea of being struck by Cupid's arrow.
Which one should you use?
enamoramiento describes the state or the process of falling in love, whereas flechazo specifically describes the sudden, intense spark of a crush.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
For a more formal way to express romantic interest or attraction, you can use atracción or interés romántico. In a playful and informal context, flechazo is used to describe a sudden attraction or love at first sight.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
Both enamoramiento and flechazo are masculine nouns. If you want to express the action of feeling unrequited love, you can use the verb phrase estar enamorado.
How do you pronounce it?
/enamoɾaˈmjento/
When do people say it?
The word flechazo captures the suddenness of a 'crush' through the metaphor of an arrow hitting its mark.
Did you know?
- The term flechazo can be used metaphorically to describe any sudden, unexpected event, much like an 'arrow' hitting a target, even outside of romance.
- While an English speaker might use 'crush' to mean the person they like, in Spanish, flechazo refers specifically to the sudden spark or the phenomenon of 'love at first sight' itself.
- The suffix '-azo' in flechazo functions as an augmentative, which implies that the impact of this 'crush' is particularly large or powerful.
Examples in context
- He tenido un gran flechazo por ese macho hermoso durante muchos años ya.I've had a big crush on that beautiful man for years now.This sentence shows how to express having a long-term flechazo.Tatoeba #9065246 by rafaeldejesus8199, translation #9065251 by rafaeldejesus8199
- Me siento atraído/a por esa persona.I feel attracted to that person.
- Tengo un interés romántico en esa persona.I have a romantic interest in that person.
- Fue un enamoramiento pasajero.It was a passing crush.
Example conversation
Lucía and Javier are talking about their feelings for a coworker.
- LucíaJavier, creo que estoy viviendo un enamoramiento.Javier, I think I'm having a crush.
- Javier¡Qué bien! ¿Es por alguien del trabajo?That's great! Is it someone from work?
- LucíaSí, pero es un enamoramiento platónico.Yes, but it's a platonic crush.
- JavierDeberías intentar hablar con esa persona.You should try to talk to that person.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “crush” translations and entries enamoramiento, flechazo, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
