apasionar
Lemma: apasionar
Translation: to excite; to impassion; to inflame; to arouse passion; to enthuse (verb)
Etymology: Derived from the Spanish word 'pasión' (passion), which comes from Latin 'passio' (suffering, emotion), ultimately from 'pati' (to suffer). The prefix 'a-' indicates causation, so 'apasionar' literally means 'to cause passion.' The English cognate 'passion' shares the same Latin root, making this connection helpful for English speakers learning Spanish.
Example Usage
La música clásica me apasiona.
Classical music excites me.
El fútbol apasiona a millones de personas en todo el mundo.
Football impassions millions of people around the world.
Se apasionó por la fotografía desde muy joven.
He became passionate about photography from a very young age.
El debate apasionó a todos los presentes.
The debate aroused passion in everyone present.
Mnemonics
- Think 'a-passion-ar' - to make someone feel passion
- Remember that the 'a-' prefix in Spanish often means 'to cause' - so apasionar means 'to cause passion'
- Picture a passionate Spanish flamenco dancer who 'apasiona' (excites) the audience
Related Words, Phrases & Idioms
Synonyms
Antonyms
Cultural Context
In Spanish-speaking cultures, expressing passion and emotion is often more socially acceptable and even encouraged compared to some English-speaking cultures. 'Apasionar' is commonly used to describe how hobbies, sports, arts, or causes can inspire strong feelings in people.
Easily Confused With
Explanation: While 'apasionar' means to excite passion, 'compasionar' means to feel compassion or pity for someone.
Notes: 'Apasionar' is about arousing strong positive feelings, while 'compasionar' involves feeling sympathy for others' suffering.
Mnemonic: 'Apasionar' has 'pasión' (passion) in it, while 'compasionar' has 'compasión' (compassion).
Explanation: 'Pasionar' is much less common and refers to suffering passion, while 'apasionar' means to cause passion or excitement.
Notes: 'Pasionar' is rarely used in modern Spanish except in religious contexts, while 'apasionar' is common in everyday speech.
Mnemonic: 'Apasionar' has the 'a-' prefix meaning 'to cause' while 'pasionar' is directly about experiencing passion/suffering.