When expressing strong opinions in Spanish, you’ll often encounter two powerful verbs: “encantar” (to love) and “odiar” (to hate). These Spanish love-hate verbs allow you to convey intense feelings about various subjects. Let’s explore how to use them effectively.
“Encantar” – To Love
“Encantar” follows a structure similar to “gustar” (to like). It’s used to express that something is thoroughly enjoyed or loved. Here’s how it works:
- The verb is conjugated based on the thing being loved, not the person loving it.
- You use indirect object pronouns (me, te, le, nos, os, les) to indicate who is doing the loving.
Examples:
- Me encanta la música. (I love music.)
- Te encanta el chocolate, ¿verdad? (You love chocolate, don’t you?)
- Le encantan los perros. (He/She loves dogs.)
- Nos encanta viajar. (We love traveling.)
- Os encanta la playa. (You all love the beach.)
- Les encanta la comida italiana. (They love Italian food.)
- Me encantan las películas de ciencia ficción. (I love science fiction movies.)
“Odiar” – To Hate
“Odiar” is a regular -ar verb, making it simpler to conjugate. Unlike “encantar,” it follows the standard subject-verb-object structure common in English.
Examples:
- Odio las mentiras. (I hate lies.)
- ¿Odias madrugar? (Do you hate getting up early?)
- Ella odia el tráfico de la ciudad. (She hates city traffic.)
- Odiamos la injusticia. (We hate injustice.)
- Ellos odian los días lluviosos. (They hate rainy days.)
- ¿Odias la comida picante? (Do you hate spicy food?)
Versatility of Spanish Love-Hate Verbs
Both “encantar” and “odiar” can be used with nouns or infinitives, giving you flexibility in expressing your opinions:
- Me encanta bailar. (I love dancing.)
- Odio esperar en las filas. (I hate waiting in lines.)
- Les encanta la cultura española. (They love Spanish culture.)
- Odiamos la contaminación. (We hate pollution.)
- Me encanta leer antes de dormir. (I love reading before bed.)
- Ellos odian hacer ejercicio por la mañana. (They hate exercising in the morning.)
- ¿Te encanta viajar en tren? (Do you love traveling by train?)
Intensity and Context
“Encantar” and “odiar” express stronger emotions than “gustar” and “no gustar.” Use them to emphasize deep feelings. These verbs will help you express opinions vividly, from loving paella to hating traffic jams.