Which one should you use?
Amor is the noun for the concept of love, whereas amar is the verb used for the action of loving. If you want to express that you love a specific object or activity, use encantarle. The plural form amores can refer to multiple instances of love or, more commonly, to romantic affairs or lovers.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Spain and some Latin American countries, Cariño is a common term for 'darling' or 'love'. In Latin America, the term Amorcito, which translates to 'little love', is widely used as an affectionate term.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
Amor is a masculine noun and is used with masculine articles such as el or un.
How do you pronounce it?
/aˈmoɾ/
When do people say it?
Affection is expressed through various terms of endearment. For example, you can address a partner as Mi amor or use Cariño or Amorcito to show warmth.
Did you know?
- In many Spanish-speaking cultures, calling a stranger amor or amorcito in a marketplace is a common way to be friendly and is not necessarily romantic.
- In some regions, the expression por amor al arte is used to describe doing something for free simply because you enjoy it.
- In Spanish, using the verb amar to describe your feelings for a friend or a family member can sometimes sound overly dramatic or poetic compared to the more common querer.
Examples in context
- Yo amo el amor.I love love.This sentence uses the noun amor to express the concept of loving the feeling itself.Tatoeba #4445278 by cueyayotl, translation #3430986 by _undertoad
- El amor es ciego.Love is by nature blind.This sentence uses the noun amor in a common proverb about love being blind.Tatoeba #402809 by catakaoe, translation #326276 by rul
- No sé si es amor.I wonder if this is love.This sentence uses the noun amor to express uncertainty about a feeling.Tatoeba #877698 by Shishir, translation #435651 by CK
- Querida Ana,Dear Ana,
- Querido Juan, mi amor,Dear Juan, my love,
- Te quiero más de lo que puedes imaginar,I love you more than you can imagine,
- Querida María, mi cariño,Dear María, my darling,
- Querido Juan, mi amorcito lindo,Dear Juan, my lovely little love,
- 567 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Javier and Sofía are talking about their relationship.
- JavierSiento mucho amor por ti, Sofía.I feel a lot of love for you, Sofía.
- SofíaYo también siento ese amor, Javier.I feel that love too, Javier.
- JavierNuestro amor es muy especial.Our love is very special.
- SofíaSí, es el amor más puro.Yes, it is the purest love.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “love” translations and entries amor, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
