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"Encantar" is an intransitive verb which is often translated as "to love", and "atraer" is a transitive verb which is often translated as "to attract". Learn more about the difference between "encantar" and "atraer" below.
encantar(
ehng
-
kahn
-
tahr
)
An intransitive verb is one that does not require a direct object (e.g., The man sneezed.).
intransitive verb
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.).
transitive verb
a. to bewitch
La bruja encantó a la princesa.The witch bewitched the princess.
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atraer(
ah
-
trah
-
ehr
)
A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g., I bought a book.).
transitive verb
a. to attract
Su pelo largo atraía la atención de todo el mundo donde fuera.Her long hair attracted everyone's attention wherever she went.
b. to draw
Mira cómo esos músculos atraen la atención de todas las chicas.Look at how those muscles draw the attention of all the girls.
a. to attract
El polo negativo atrae al polo positivo.The negative pole attracts the positive pole.
a. to attract
El vino atrae a las avispas.Wine attracts wasps.
b. to draw
El queso atrajo el ratón a la trampa.The cheese drew the mouse to the trap.
a. to attract
Sus hermosos ojos oscuros me atraparon.His beautiful dark eyes attracted me.
a. to appeal
No me atraen los museos.Museums don't appeal to me.
atraerse
A reciprocal verb is a verb that indicates that two or more subjects perform an action on each other (e.g., Ellos se abrazan.).
reciprocal verb
a. to be attracted to each other
Se atrajeron mutuamente desde el principio.They were attracted to each other from the very first moment.
a. to attract each other
Aprendí en la escuela que el Sol y la Tierra se atraen.I learned at school that the Sun and the Earth attract each other.
A pronominal verb always uses a reflexive pronoun. (e.g., Te ves cansado.).
pronominal verb
a. to win
Se atrajo el respeto de sus compañeros al conseguir un cliente importante.He won the respect of his colleagues when he acquired an important client.
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