encantado
/enkanˈtado/
nice to meet you in Spanish is encantado.
encantado is a polite expression used to say that you are pleased to meet someone for the first time. You can also use the gender-neutral alternative mucho gusto, which means 'much pleasure' and works in both formal and informal contexts. For a warmer, more informal feeling, you can say Estoy feliz de conocerte, which means 'I'm happy to meet you'.
What does it mean word for word?
The word encantado literally means 'enchanted' or 'delighted'.
Which one should you use?
While encantado is a common way to express pleasure in a meeting, mucho gusto is a gender-neutral alternative that means 'much pleasure'.
How does it change in a sentence?
The form of the word changes based on the gender of the speaker: use encantado if you are male and encantada if you are female. To use the informal 'you' (tú), use the phrase encantado de conocerte.
How do you pronounce it?
/enkanˈtado/
When do people say it?
If someone says encantado to you, a natural response is igualmente, which means 'likewise'.
Did you know?
- The word encantado can also be used to describe a magical spell or a haunted place, such as un bosque encantado for 'an enchanted forest'.
- In many Spanish-speaking cultures, saying encantado is often accompanied by a warm, firm handshake or even a light kiss on the cheek in social settings.
- While encantado is common, in many Latin American countries mucho gusto is far more frequent as the primary way to say 'nice to meet you'.
Examples in context
- Encantado de conocerlo, Ken.Nice to meet you, Ken.This sentence shows how to use encantado in a formal greeting to a person named Ken.Tatoeba #1651249 by marcelostockle, translation #267038 by CP
- ¡Encantado!Nice to meet you!This is a short, enthusiastic way to use encantado.Tatoeba #5083664 by cueyayotl, translation #2732594 by mackay
- Encantado de conocerte, mi nombre es Carlos.Nice to meet you, my name is Carlos.This example shows how to use encantado in an informal context to introduce yourself.Tatoeba #9035402 by carlosalberto, translation #9035393 by carlosalberto
- 4 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Daniel and Lucía are being introduced at a social gathering.
- DanielHola, soy Daniel.Hello, I am Daniel.
- LucíaMucho gusto, soy Lucía.Nice to meet you, I am Lucía.
- DanielEncantado de conocerte, Lucía.Nice to meet you, Lucía.
- LucíaIgualmente, Daniel.Likewise, Daniel.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry encantado, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
