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"Encanta" is a form of "encantar", an intransitive verb which is often translated as "to love". "Alegra" is a form of "alegrar", a transitive verb which is often translated as "to cheer up". Learn more about the difference between "encanta" and "alegra" below.
encantar(
ehng
-
kahn
-
tahr
)An intransitive verb is one that does not require a direct object (e.g., The man sneezed.).
a. to love
Me encanta tomarme un chocolate caliente cuando hace frío afuera.I love drinking hot chocolate when it's cold out.
¡Me encanta tu casa! ¿Tú misma la decoraste?I love your house! Did you decorate it yourself?
A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g., I bought a book.).
alegrar(
ah
-
leh
-
grahr
)A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g., I bought a book.).
b. to make happy
Nos alegraste mucho con la noticia de que vamos a ser abuelos.You've made us really happy with the news that we're going to be grandparents.
2. (to enliven)
alegrarse
A pronominal verb always uses a reflexive pronoun. (e.g., Te ves cansado.).
3. (to rejoice)
c. to be glad
Me alegro de que lo preguntes, porque me había olvidado de mencionarlo.I'm glad you ask, since I had forgotten to mention it.
a. to get tipsy (colloquial)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
Una cerveza no es suficiente para alegrarme.One beer is not enough to get me tipsy.
b. to get merry (colloquial) (United Kingdom)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
Regionalism used in the United Kingdom
Se alegró con solo un sorbo de vino.She got merry with just one sip of wine.