This guide covers how to flirt in Spanish, including cultural intricacies. Covered are what is appropriate and not, and how to show respect in to romantic interests in Spanish-speaking cultures.

1. Flirting in a foreign language
Courting is one of the most instinctive behaviors of human beings.
But when it is topped up with an aromatic bouquet of flowers, a passionate handwritten letter, or
a surprise mariachi serenade, it becomes something extraordinary that requires both intellectual
strategy and emotional sensibility.
Romance is something we actually learn.
We usually inherit the dating know-how from the culture and the linguistic background we live-
in. Children who grow up in bilingual homes tend to acquire both sets of language and romantic
knowledge from their parents.
As kids, we observe how adults behave and form beliefs around flirting and finding a partner.
These references may come from our private life such as relatives, family friends, neighbors, and
teachers.

2. They can also come from the public sphere -- film characters, TV presenters, religious leaders,
and even random strangers on the bus.
Then, as we hit the teenage years we get to experiment and implement what we've observed.
There's nothing like a good dose of trial and error.
However, to conquer someone’s heart using a language that is not your mother tongue you really
need to study your lines as well as the values and principles that rule the dating game.
Taking Spanish language lessons with a Spanish native speaker will give you a real advantage in
the love race. Here are some tips to up your game even further.
How to Say 'flirt' in Spanish
There are many ways to say ‘flirt’ in Spanish, so let’s start by diving into the love terminology.
ENGLISH SPANISH
Flirting Ligando

3. A flirt Ligue
To flirt Ligar
Flirting with the one with the red dress Ligando con la del vestido rojo
Teasing Coqueteando
A teaser Un coqueto/una coqueta
To tease Coquetear
Teasing her/him Coqueteando con ella/con él
Dating Saliendo
A date Una cita
To date Salir
Dating someone Saliendo con alguien
Courting Cortejando
Courtship Cortejo
To court Cortejar
Courting Mary/Joseph Cortejando a María/a José
Seducing Seduciendo
Seduction Seducción
To seduce Seducir
Seducing your friend Seduciendo a tu amiga/amigo
Loving Amando
My love Mi amor
To love Amar
Loving you Amándote
This list of dating stereotypes will come handy too!
ENGLISH SPANISH INOFFENSIVE OFFENSIVE
For her Beauty Guapa X
Lovely Hermosa X
Sweetheart Bombón X
Hot momma Mamacita X
Bitch Lagartona X
Slut Zorra X

4. Posh girl Niña bien X
Cougar Cuarentona X
For him Henpecked husband Mandilón X
Prince Charming Príncipe azul X
Admirer Admirador X
Craddle-snatcher Asaltacunas X
Dandy Galán X
Golden boy Niño bien X
Don Juan Don Juan X
Womanizer Mujeriego X
Cavalier Caballero X
How to Flirt in Spanish
In most Latin-American, Spanish speaking countries, it remains the custom that the man is the
one who makes the first move. But that doesn’t mean that women won't chat you up at the bar.
However, chivalry is still expected -- nothing beats old-fashioned courtly manners.

5. Here are some basic Spanish pick-up lines that will help you to talk to others in a friendly
manner, be polite, and start small talk.
ENGLISH SPANISH
Hello beautiful! Hola guapa
Hello handsome! Hola guapo
I'll buy you a drink Te invito una copa
Why so lonely? ¿Por qué tan solita?
Are you from around here? ¿Eres de por aquí?
Do you study or work? ¿Estudias o trabajas?
Do you come here often? ¿Vienes aquí seguido?
Did you have a bad day? ¿Tuviste un mal día?
It's my lucky day Es mi día de suerte
You are beautiful Eres hermoso/hermosa
You make me happy Me haces feliz
You are perfect Eres perfecto/perfecta
You are awesome Eres increíble
I'd like to know you better Me gustaría conocerte mejor
Would you like to have lunch someday? ¿Te gustaría ir a comer algún día?
Do you need a ride? ¿Necesitas un aventón?
Are you free tomorrow? ¿Estás libre mañana?
Te quiero vs Te amo
If you look for a direct translation of ‘I love you’ you will find two different things: Te amo and
Te quiero. The dissimilarity falls on the occasion these two are used and to whom should these
be addressed.
ENGLISH SPANISH OCCASION ADDRESSED TO
I love you Te quiero
An expression of affectionate
love
Friends, relatives, dates or loved
ones
I love you
too
Yo también te
quiero
I love you Te amo
A direct confession of
romantic or passionate love
Serious relationships, spouses or
close family members
I love you
too
Yo también te
amo
How to say I love you in Spanish

6. Besides ‘te amo’ and ‘te quiero’, there are many phrases used to express love and appreciation.
Observe in the chart below how there is a concordance of gender between the pronoun and the
adjective.
ENGLISH SPANISH
I cherish you Te aprecio
I like you Me gustas
I like you a lot Me encantas
I adore you Te adoro
I admire you Te admiro
I'm really into you Me fascinas
I am crazy about you Estoy loco/loca por ti
I am addicted to you Soy adicto/adicta a ti
I am all yours Soy todo tuyo/tuya
I fell for you Me enamoré de ti
I am in love with your Estoy enamorado/enamorada de ti

7. Therefore, be mindful of this rule when you use adjectives such as:
• Crazy: loco (masculine) and loca (feminine).
• Addicted: adicto (masculine) and adicta (feminine).
• Lost: perdido (masculine) and perdida (feminine).
If you are looking for other ways to confess your love try these phrases:
ENGLISH SPANISH
We are meant for each other Somos uno para el otro
I would be lost without you Estaría perdido/perdida sin ti
I really fancy you Me gustas mucho
You mean so much to me Significas mucho para mi
There is a witty saying used in Mexico that has no equal in English: cacheteando las banquetas.
The direct translation would be ‘slapping the sidewalks’, which doesn't make any sense.
However, it is used to point out that someone has fallen in love so deeply that as a consequence
the person has lost his mind and probably his will too!
When you are talking in first person it goes like this: Me traes cacheteando las banquetas. But it
can also be applied to talk about a friend, for example: María te trae cacheteando las banquetas.
Mexican piropos
When it comes to courting, Mexican men have a very special way of expressing their admiration
for women -- offering flirty sayings known as piropos.
Some can sound classy and amorous, others can be very sexual and vulgar; so be careful which
ones you pick to seduce your love.
Look at the examples and their figurative translation:
FLATTERING:
Spanish Dios debe estar distraído porque los ángeles se le están escapando.
English God must be distracted because some angels are escaping.
SUGGESTIVE:
Spanish Tú con esas curvas y yo sin frenos.
English You with those curves and me without brakes.

8. Finally, if you are to conquer a Mexican girl’s heart, you ought to serenade her with a Mariachi
band. That is a true sign of your good intentions. She doesn’t need to live in a place with a
balcony.
Just get together with some friends, hire a Mariachi band, show up under her window (or in front
of her house) and sing out loud.
The custom is that she will turn on her light as a sign that she is listening, then come out to the
balcony (or wave at you through the window), and finally let you into her place with the guitars
and trumpets to enjoy the full repertoire.
To find out more about how to flirt in Spanish (and tips on speaking the entire language, so you'll
be even more impressive to that special someone), sign up for our FREE Spanish Survival Crash
Course and have learning material, tips, audio lessons, and more sent right to your inbox: