Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| apoyador | /apoʝaˈdoɾ/ | masculine |
| partidiario | /paɾtidjaɾjo/ (from spelling rules) | masculine |
| acuerpante | /akweɾpante/ (from spelling rules) | feminine, masculine |
| secundante | /sekundante/ (from spelling rules) | feminine, masculine |
| supórter | /supoɾteɾ/ (from spelling rules) | US, common gender |
| propugnador | /pɾopuɡnaˈdoɾ/ | masculine |
The term is used to describe a person who supports, an adherent (noun).
Which one should you use?
While apoyador is a general term for a supporter, partidario specifically implies a supporter of a political party or a specific cause. The term propugnador is a more formal way to describe someone who advocates for or defends a specific idea or principle.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
If you want to be formal, you can use partidario or propugnador. In more informal contexts, if you wish to emphasize strong dedication or fanaticism towards a person, team or cause, you might use fanático.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Argentine Spanish, the term barrabrava is used to describe die-hard fans or supporters in the realm of soccer. In Latin American Spanish, hinchada is used to refer to a crowd of fans or supporters at a sporting event.
How does it change in a sentence?
The masculine form is apoyador. To refer to a female supporter, use apoyadora. For a group of supporters, use apoyadores for a masculine or mixed-gender group and apoyadoras for a group of only females. Some forms in this language are common-gender, such as supórter.
How do you pronounce it?
/apoʝaˈdoɾ/
Did you know?
- In many Spanish-speaking countries, the word for a supporter of a sports team is hincha, derived from the verb hinchar, which means 'to swell' or 'to inflate'.
- While barrabrava describes soccer supporters, it literally translates to 'brave gang'. In many contexts, it refers to organized groups of fans known for violence rather than just sports loyalty.
- In many Spanish-speaking countries, the term barra refers to the physical railing of a stadium where the most loyal supporters stand, eventually becoming the name for the group itself.
Examples in context
- Me considero un partidario/votante del partido de centro.I consider myself a supporter/voter of the center party.
- Ella es una seguidora del club de fútbol más importante de la región.She is a supporter/follower of the most important soccer club in the region.
- Mi abuelo siempre fue un gran admirador de las personas valientes.My grandfather was always a great supporter/admirer of brave individuals.
- Somos aficionados de la música de salsa.We are supporters/fans of salsa music.
- Él es un fanático de los deportes extremos.He is a supporter/fanatic of extreme sports.
- Ella es una apasionada de la lucha contra el cambio climático.She is a passionate supporter/advocate for the fight against climate change.
- La hinchada celebró la victoria del equipo en las calles de la ciudad.The supporters/fans celebrated the team's victory in the city streets.
Example conversation
María and Alejandro are discussing a local political campaign.
- MaríaAlejandro, ¿eres un apoyador de ese candidato?Alejandro, are you a supporter of that candidate?
- AlejandroSí, soy un apoyador desde hace años.Yes, I have been a supporter for years.
- MaríaMe parece que tiene muchas ideas interesantes.I think he has many interesting ideas.
- AlejandroPor eso soy su apoyador más entusiasta.That is why I am his most enthusiastic supporter.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “supporter” translations and entries apoyador, supórter, propugnador, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
