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"Encanta" is an intransitive verb which is often translated as "to love", and "amas" is a transitive verb which is also often translated as "to love". Learn more about the difference between "encanta" and "amas" below.
encantar()
An intransitive verb is one that does not require a direct object (e.g., The man sneezed.).
intransitive verb
a. to love
A Marcos le encanta cocinar con su abuela.Marcos loves cooking with his grandmother.
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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amar()
A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g., I bought a book.).
transitive verb
a. to love
Yo te amo, Ana, y quiero pasar el resto de mi vida contigo.I love you, Ana, and I want to spend the rest of my life with you.
Pablo ama a su esposa con todo su ser.Pablo loves his wife with all his heart.
amarse
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 love each other
Se han amado desde el momento en que se conocieron.They have loved each other from the moment they met.
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