me encanta
/me enkanta/from spelling rules
In Spanish, "I love it" is expressed as me encanta.
The phrase me encanta is used to express that someone likes something very much.
What does it mean word for word?
Literally, me encanta means "it enchants me." Because of this structure, the subject of the sentence is the thing being loved, not the person doing the loving.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Spain, me mola is an informal expression used to say 'I love it' or 'I like it a lot'.
How does it change in a sentence?
If the thing you love is plural, the verb changes from me encanta to me encantan to mean "I love them."
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often mistakenly use yo amo esto to mean "I love it", but me encanta is the natural way to express liking an object or situation.
Did you know?
- If you say me encanta to a person, it sounds like you are saying 'it enchants me' rather than 'I love you'. To express romantic love for a person, you must use the verb amar or querer.
- The verb encantar is rooted in the idea of being under a spell, giving the phrase a sense of wonder that the English 'I like' lacks.
- The 'me' in me encanta shares its ancient roots with the Latin 'mē', which is the ancestor of the English word 'me'.
Examples in context
- Me encanta.I love it.Tatoeba #3100144 by Shishir, translation #3812708 by robbieheslop
- Me encanta cuando alguien que no conozco me sonríe o tiene un gesto amable conmigo.I love it when someone I don't know smiles at me or does something kind.This sentence uses me encanta to describe a situation involving kind gestures from strangers.Tatoeba #1236612 by Shishir, translation #1236436 by Alkrasnov
- El significado de la vida siempre me ha esquivado, e imagino que siempre lo hará. Pero de todas formas me encanta.Life's meaning has always eluded me and I guess it always will. But I love it just the same.This sentence uses me encanta to show appreciation for life despite its mysteries.Tatoeba #541945 by Shishir, translation #425078 by Scott
- 2 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Lucía and Mateo are at a coffee shop looking at a new book.
- Lucía¿Te gusta este libro?Do you like this book?
- MateoSí, me encanta.Yes, I love it.
- LucíaA mí también me encanta la historia.I love the story too.
- MateoEs un libro excelente.It is an excellent book.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries me, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
