August 11, 2020 by Luis F. Dominguez Spanish Vocabulary 0 comments

15 Enchanting Spanish Words and Phrases to Add to Your Vocabulary

Every language has some words and phrases that, when pronounced, catch the attention of the people, make them smile, and bring good vibes all around. And Spanish is no exception. Some Spanish words and phrases open more doors than others, and it’s not a bad idea to learn a few of them to rise to the occasion when needed.

So, if you are learning Spanish and you would like to make some new native friends, or perhaps impress that person that you like, this post is for you.

We’ll cover what being charming or enchanting actually means, how some Spanish words or phrases can make you look better, and what these words and phrases are.

What’s Enchanting, Anyway?

According to the dictionary, enchanting is an adjective that means “powerfully pleasing, appealing, or delightful. Charming.”

We’ve all met someone like that. A person who always says the right thing, makes others feel good and, even when they say a bad word, they do it with a smile on their face and nobody feels offended.

But it’s not easy to be enchanting. There are books dedicated to help people become enchanting. One of the first of them, “How to Win Friends and Influence People,” a classic in the self-help industry written by Dale Carnegie, has sold more than $30 million copies since 1936. So, we can agree that people care about this subject.

Things That Make a Person Enchanting

Being enchanting or, in other words, highly likable, is a skill that allows you to draw others in, which is a valuable ability in your personal and professional life. But, what makes others see you as an enchanting person?

We have a few ideas.

Be Genuinely Interested in Other People

This is one of the principles proposed by Carnegie in his famous book, and it’s an excellent way to be charming. The key here is being genuine, as people usually notice when your interest is fake, and they don’t appreciate that.

A good piece of advice to achieve this genuine interest in others is to think that every person is an expert in something and you can learn from them. You just need to discover what is their area of expertise and motivate them to tell you everything about it.

Now, how do you do that in Spanish? By using the following Spanish words and phrases:

¿Todo bien? – Is everything okay?

Usually, you ask this question when you notice that something is not okay. By not asking directly, you give the other person the opportunity to decide if they want to tell you about what’s going on.

Whatever that person decides to share with you, you showed your empathy and interest in the other person’s well-being, and that’s always enchanting.

¿Cuál es tu historia? – What’s your story?

Have you just met someone and you want to show your interest in them? Just ask ¿cuál es tu historia? This is a wide question that allows for a lot of possible answers, or for a single one but with a long story.

How would you feel if somebody asked you about your story? What would you tell them? It’s such an open question that’s basically saying “I like you, I want to know everything about you. Please tell me.” And we all love to talk about ourselves.

It’s a perfect question for potential dates but also to make new friends.

¡No me digas! – No way!

¡No me digas! literally means “don’t you tell me!” But in this context it actually means the opposite: “tell me!” Think of that situation when somebody is telling you a story, gets to the climax of it, comes up with a surprising twist, and you say “no way!”

These Spanish words express surprise or disbelief about what happened. You simply can’t believe it. But they also express that you are following the story, interested in what you are hearing, and want to know more.

Avísame cuando llegues a casa. – Let me know when you get home.

What better way to show your genuine interest than by adding this little phrase after saying goodbye? It shows not only that you care, but that you worry about the other person. This phrase takes your interest one step further, from simply wanting to know more about them to wanting to protect them.

It’s a natural for parents and couples, and that says it all. What more genuine interest is there than that of a parent or a partner? For that same reason, it’s disarming for potential dates.

Be a Good Listener

Do you want to be liked? Be a good listener. This is one of the most common pieces of advice for improving relationships and for good reason. Nothing is more disempowering than talking to a person or group who doesn’t pay attention to what you’re saying. And let us not forget, the opposite is also true—nothing is more enchanting than finding someone who truly listens to what you have to say.

However, listening is not as easy as it seems. Usually we believe that it’s done just with the ears, but active listening requires much more. It’s a process that includes understanding, interpreting, and evaluating what you are listening to. Your values, previous experiences, and memories also play a role, and the process is only complete when you give a response.

So, how to show that you are actually listening in Spanish?

¡Cuéntame! – Tell me!

Depending on the situation, cuéntame may include exclamation marks or not. Anyway, this Spanish word is a signal that you are ready to listen to what the other person has to say. It shows that you are available and that you care about what’s going in the other’s life.

This simple word is also a key to a lot more. You may not be listening yet, but you are saying that you are ready to do it. So, the active listening process is about to start, and you’ll have the following phrases to do it properly.

¿A qué te refieres? – What do you mean?

You can also say ¿a que te refieres con eso? or “what do you mean by that?” You may actually need clarification about something, but you can also ask only as a way to let your interlocutor know that you are paying attention.

Besides, if the person you are talking to is shy, this question will be encouraging for them. A boost to their confidence. And people appreciate when you ask them questions.

Y entonces, ¿qué pasó? – And then, what happened?

These Spanish words are great for keeping the flow of the conversation and to show that your interest is still there. They also help to give a pause to the other person, giving them time to think about what’s next and, as they know that you are listening, they’ll keep talking with renewed enthusiasm.

Siento mucho que hayas pasado por esto. – I’m sorry you went through that.

Remember when I mentioned that the active listening process wasn’t complete until you give a response? Well, this is one possible response. In this case, the other person has already finished their story, and now it’s your turn to process all the information you’ve just received and give a heartfelt, considerate answer.

It shows that you listened through the whole story and, not only that you care, but that you are sorry. We all need to talk from time to time about what we are going through; it serves as a cathartic process. Finding someone to listen is great, but being the listener is even better, as you can help someone you care about just by being there for them.

Talk About the Other Person’s Interests

It’s always nice when you find someone with similar interests to yours. However, that doesn’t happen frequently, so it requires an effort on your part to talk in terms of the other person’s interests. But it’s worth it.

Show an interest to learn more about the other person’s hobbies, passions, and values. Ask questions, listen actively, and try to understand what they see in those things that they care about. That’s a great way to be charming!

¿A qué te dedicas? – What do you do for a living?

This is a great icebreaker and the best way to start knowing more about the other person’s life. It’s also a safe subject, not too personal, but also one that gives your interlocutor a lot of freedom to talk as much as they want about themselves.

I know that asking people what they do for a living doesn’t sound that enchanting. We’ve all done it many times without trying to be charming at all. But it’s the key for the conversation that follows this question, a conversation entirely focused on the other person’s professional interests.

¡Fascinante! – Fascinating!

Picture this: someone is telling you about their job and you respond with a simple ¡fascinante! How do you think that person is going to feel? Awesome, of course! It doesn’t matter if the other person is an astronaut or a lawyer, every job has fascinating parts and it’s our job to discover what they are.

This Spanish word shows not only your interest in the other person’s job or hobby but that you are actually impressed by it. It’s a good feeling when you impress someone, right?

¿Cómo te metiste en esto? – How did you get into this?

This is a follow-up question after you asked something like ¿a qué te dedicas? (what do you do?) or ¿cuáles son tus hobbies? (what are your hobbies?). Let’s say the person is telling you about this great business opportunity or about a cool hobby like surfing or yoga, and that’s when you ask ¿cómo te metiste en esto?

By asking this question, you show that you might be interested in doing it yourself and that you think it’s a cool thing to do (because if it wasn’t, why would you be interested in it?).

Me encantaría intentarlo algún día. – I’d love to try that one day.

Similar to the question ¿cómo te metiste en esto? but much less subtle. Basically, you are saying “your interest is so cool that I want to try it.” Even if you never try it, you just made the other person feel interesting.

Give Genuine Compliments and Appreciation

An excellent way to be that enchanting person everybody likes is by giving true compliments and showing genuine appreciation. Once again, the key word here is “genuine.” People don’t appreciate fake compliments, and if they detect that you are being insincere, they might wonder if you have a hidden agenda.

However, giving genuine compliments is always a great idea, and the Spanish language is full of them. So, don’t be shy—bring your best compliments out!

¡Estás radiante! – You look absolutely radiant!

This is a fabulous compliment. You don’t say it on a normal day; it’s exclusive for special occasions like weddings or graduations, or that rare day when someone looks really stunning. But when you say it, it makes the other person feel completely amazing.

Estoy orgulloso de ti. – I’m proud of you.

These Spanish words express one of the best compliments of all: being proud of someone. Again, when you are using words that a parent would say to their children, it’s because you have reached a different level in your relationship with that person. It shows that you are close enough to share as intimate a feeling as pride.

Te extraño. – I miss you.

What better way is there to show your appreciation for someone than to say that you miss them? If all the other phrases we’ve seen express that you care, these simple Spanish words express that you care even when that person is not around.

Vocabulary: Enchanting Synonyms in Spanish

Now that you’ve become extremely enchanting with this list of charming Spanish words and phrases, you might want to know how to describe your irresistible personality. Check out these fun Spanish synonyms:

encantador – enchanting
cautivador – captivating
ameno – enjoyable
amable – friendly
entretenido – entertaining
agradable – nice

Practice These Enchanting Spanish Words

Do you want to practice having an enchanting conversation? Test the potency of your new powers by signing up for a free class with one of our native Spanish-speaking teachers from Guatemala!

Looking for more free Spanish learning resources? Check these out!

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Luis F. Dominguez

Freelance Writer at Homeschool Spanish Academy

Luis F. Domínguez is a freelance writer and independent journalist interested in travel, languages, art, books, history, philosophy, politics and sports. He has written for Fodor’s, Yahoo!, Sports Illustrated, Telemundo, and Villa Experience, among other brands of print and digital media in Europe and North America.