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"Fascinar" is a transitive verb which is often translated as "to fascinate", and "atraer" is a transitive verb which is often translated as "to attract". Learn more about the difference between "fascinar" and "atraer" below.
fascinar(
fah
-
see
-
nahr
)A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g., I bought a book.).
1. (to charm)
a. to fascinate
Me fascinan los cuadros de Remedios Varo.I'm fascinated by Remedios Varo's paintings.
El tablet fascinó al hombre porque nunca antes había visto uno.The tablet fascinated the man because he had never seen one before.
b. to captivate
La cantante fascinó al público con su interpretación de "Gracias a la vida".The singer captivated the audience with her rendition of "Thanks to Life."
a. to love
Me fascina el café de la esquina; venden los mejores capuchinos.I love that café on the corner; they sell the best cappuccinos.
atraer(
ah
-
trah
-
ehr
)A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g., I bought a book.).
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.
2. (physics)
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.).
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.).
