San Valentín
/san balentin/from spelling rules
The English word "valentine" can be translated to Spanish as San Valentín.
In Spanish, the term San Valentín refers to the holiday itself (Valentine's Day) rather than the person you are sending a card to. To refer specifically to the holiday as a full noun phrase, it is common to say el Día de San Valentín.
Meaning: a person to whom you give, or from whom you receive, a valentine, on February 14th (noun)
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often mistakenly use San Valentín to refer to a romantic partner, but in Spanish, you would use terms like mi amor or mi pareja instead.
Did you know?
- In some Spanish-speaking cultures, there is a tradition called el amigo secreto or 'secret friend', which functions like a Secret Santa but is often centered around romantic or platonic gestures during San Valentín.
- The name Valentín comes from the Latin name Valentinus, which is derived from the word 'valere', meaning 'to be strong' or 'to be well'.
- While San Valentín is the standard name for the holiday, many Spanish speakers refer to it as el Día de los Enamorados, which means 'the day of those in love'.
Examples in context
- Mi Valentín me ha hecho muy felizMy Valentine has made me very happy
- Mi enamorado/aMy sweetheart or my love
- Feliz Día del CariñoHappy Valentine's Day
- Mi amor, eres mi Valentín y mi media naranja. Te quiero con todo mi corazón.My love, you are my Valentine and my soulmate. I love you with all my heart.
Example conversation
Two friends are talking about their plans for February 14th.
- SofíaHola Alejandro, ¿ya tienes un San Valentín?Hi Alejandro, do you have a valentine already?
- AlejandroNo, Sofía, no tengo a nadie.No, Sofia, I don't have anyone.
- Sofía¿Quieres que yo sea tu San Valentín?Do you want me to be your valentine?
- Alejandro¡Sí, me encantaría!Yes, I would love that!
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries San, Valentín, san, CC BY-SA 4.0.
