Do you have a crush on that cute Cuban girl in your class?
Or you’ve met a gorgeous tango dancer in a club in Buenos Aires, and you can’t stop thinking about her?
Flirting is not an easy skill to master. Flirting in Spanish is a challenge on its own. What to say to sound smooth and not cheesy?
I’ll do my best to help you.
How to Flirt in Spanish – Basic Vocabulary
Your classroom Spanish will hardly prepare you for the time you finally meet the girl of your dreams or the future love of your life. So if you are looking to build your Spanish romance vocabulary, check out what I’ve selected just for the occasion:
- 🇪🇸 amar / querer – 🇬🇧 to love
- 🇪🇸 gustar – 🇬🇧 to like
- 🇪🇸 coquetear – 🇬🇧 to flirt
- 🇪🇸 ligar – 🇬🇧 to hit on
- 🇪🇸 halagar – 🇬🇧 to flatter
- 🇪🇸 un piropo – 🇬🇧 a compliment
- 🇪🇸 enamorarse – 🇬🇧 to fall in love
- 🇪🇸 estar locamente enamorado – 🇬🇧 to be smitten
- 🇪🇸 estar hechos el uno para el otro – 🇬🇧 to be a perfect match
- 🇪🇸 invitar a salir – 🇬🇧 to ask out
- 🇪🇸 guapo/a / estupendo/a / apuesto/a – 🇬🇧 good-looking, attractive, handsome
- 🇪🇸 precioso/a – 🇬🇧 precious
- 🇪🇸 mijita rica / muñeca / mami / mamasita / mina – 🇬🇧 a hot girl
- 🇪🇸 mijito rico / mino / guapetón – 🇬🇧 a hot guy
- 🇪🇸 amor a primera vista – 🇬🇧 love at first sight
- 🇪🇸 tener un flechazo – 🇬🇧 to have a crush
- 🇪🇸 estar loco por alguien – 🇬🇧 to be crazy about someone
- 🇪🇸 romper el corazón – 🇬🇧 break someone’s heart
- 🇪🇸 novio/a, pololo/a (Chile) – 🇬🇧 boyfriend / girlfriend
- 🇪🇸 salir, pololear – 🇬🇧 to date
- 🇪🇸 príncipe azul – 🇬🇧 Mr. Right
- 🇪🇸 media naranja – 🇬🇧 a better half
- 🇪🇸 alma gemela – 🇬🇧 soulmate
That is quite a useful list to have, don´t you think?
As with all the new vocabulary you want to learn, the best way is to use it communicatively, making meaningful sentences.
🇪🇸 Te amo / te quiero.
🇬🇧 I love you.
🇪🇸 Me gustas mucho.
🇬🇧 I like you a lot.
🇪🇸 Me estoy enamorando de tí.
🇬🇧 I am falling in love with you.
🇪🇸 Estoy enamorada de Juan.
🇬🇧 I am in love with Juan.
🇪🇸 Carla y yo somos novios.
🇬🇧 Carla and I are a couple.
🇪🇸 Estoy saliendo con Pablo.
🇬🇧 I’m dating / going out with Pablo.
🇪🇸 No sigas buscando un príncipe azul.
🇬🇧 Stop looking for Mr. Right.
🇪🇸 Eres muy guapa / linda / hermosa. – to a woman (the feminine form of adjectives)
🇬🇧 You’re very good-looking / pretty / beautiful
🇪🇸 Eres muy guapo / atractivo / apuesto – to a man (the masculine form of adjectives)
🇬🇧 You are very handsome / attractive.
🇪🇸 Estoy loco por tí.
🇬🇧 I’m crazy about you.
🇪🇸 Cada día te quiero más.
🇬🇧 I love you more and more every day.
🇪🇸 Me rompiste el corazón.
🇬🇧 You broke my heart.
🇪🇸 Eres el amor de mi vida.
🇬🇧 You are the love of my life.
🇪🇸 Veo que te gusta Francisca. ¿Por qué no la invitas a salir?
🇬🇧 I see you are into Francisca. Why don’t you ask her out?🇬🇧
🇪🇸 Si quieres ligar con Carla, asegúrate de vestir bien.
🇬🇧 If you want to hit on Carla, make sure to dress well.
How to Flirt in Spanish – Common Pick-up Lines
Let’s imagine you’ve been invited to a birthday party. Or you’re in a bar with some friends.
This hot girl is sitting right in front of you, and you can’t take your eyes off her. Go for it!
But how to make the first step and approach her? And most importantly, what to say in Spanish?
🇪🇸 Test Your Spanish Knowledge 🇪🇸
Here’s a bunch of alternatives:
🇪🇸 Me gustas mucho.
🇬🇧 I like you a lot.
🇪🇸 Tienes una sonrisa muy linda.
🇬🇧 You have a beautiful smile.
🇪🇸 Me encantan tus ojos.
🇬🇧 I love your eyes.
🇪🇸 Eres la mujer más hermosa que he visto.
🇬🇧 You’re the most beautiful smile I’ve ever seen.
🇪🇸 Pareces una chica encantadora.
🇬🇧 You seem like a lovely girl.
🇪🇸 ¡Este vestido te queda estupendo!
🇬🇧 This dress looks gorgeous on you!
🇪🇸 ¿Alguien te ha dicho alguna vez lo guapa que eres?
🇬🇧 Has anyone ever told you how hot you are?
🇪🇸 ¿Oye guapa, te gustaría bailar conmigo?
🇬🇧 Hi gorgeous, would you like to dance with me?
🇪🇸 ¿Te puedo invitar un trago?
🇬🇧 Can I buy you a drink?
🇪🇸 ¿Me puedes dar tu número de teléfono?
🇬🇧 Can you give me your phone number?
🇪🇸 ¿Quieres salir conmigo a comer o algo?
🇬🇧 Do you want to grab a bite or something?
🇪🇸 Me encantaría volver a verte.
🇬🇧 I would love to see you again.
🇪🇸 No puedo dejar de pensar en tí.
🇬🇧 I can’t stop thinking about you.
🇪🇸 ¿Estás saliendo con alguien?
🇬🇧 Are you dating anyone?
🇪🇸 ¿Tienes novio/a?
🇬🇧 Do you have a boyfriend / girlfriend?
🇪🇸 ¿Por qué no me presentas a tu hermana?
🇬🇧 Why don’t you introduce me to your sister?
Nice! You’ve been smooth like an oiled boob 😉
Remember, once you manage to get that girl’s attention, it is good to have some Spanish conversation starters at hand. Don’t worry about your accent or poor grammar. The fact that you are a “gringo” might actually seem hot to her.
Flirting in Spanish – Romantic Pick-up Lines
Women love to be flattered and complimented. So don’t be afraid to throw in some romance into your “recipe for love.”
Hopefully, you find inspiration in the lines below:
🇪🇸 ¿Estás perdida? Porque al cielo hay un largo camino desde aquí.
🇬🇧 Are you lost? Because heaven’s a long way from here.
🇪🇸 Tienes unos ojos tan bellos, que podrías curar hasta a un ciego.
🇬🇧 You have such pretty eyes that you could even heal a blind man.
🇪🇸 Tú eres la estrella que guía mi corazón.
🇬🇧 You are the star that guides my heart.
🇪🇸 Ojalá fueras bombero para apagar el fuego de mi deseo.
🇬🇧 I wish you were a firefighter to put out the fire of my desire.
🇪🇸 Hasta el sol siente celos de la forma en que brillas.
🇬🇧 Even the sun is jealous of the way you shine.
🇪🇸 Quisiera ser joyero para poder apreciar todos los días un diamante como tú.
🇬🇧 I’d like to be a jeweler to be able to appreciate every day a diamond like you.
🇪🇸 Si la belleza fuera delito, yo te daría cadena perpetua.
🇬🇧 If beauty were a crime, I would sentence you for life.
🇪🇸 Si el agua fuese belleza, tú serías el océano entero.
🇬🇧 If water were beauty, you’d be the whole ocean.
🇪🇸 Si besarte fuera pecado, caminaría feliz por el infierno.
🇬🇧 If kissing you were a sin; I’d happily walk through hell.
If you pay attention to the last three phrases, you’ll notice that all of them use the same conditional structure.
“Fuese” and “Fuera” are the two possible imperfect subjunctive forms of the verb “Ser.”
Flirting in Spanish – Corny Latin Pick-up Lines
I know I told you not to be afraid to be romantic. But there is a thin line between being “romantic” and sounding “cheesy.”
Latinos, I hate to say, have a special “gift” for corny compliments.
See for yourself:
🇪🇸 Mami, tú con tantas curvas y yo sin frenos.
🇬🇧 Baby, you’ve got all these curves, and I have no brakes.
🇪🇸 Mami, si cocinas tal como te mueves, me comeré el menú completo.
🇬🇧 Honey, if you cook as well as you move, I will eat the entire menu.
🇪🇸 Muñeca, ¿de qué juguetería te escapaste?
🇬🇧 Doll, what toy store did you escape from?
🇪🇸 Tus labios se ven solitos, ¿querrán conocerse con los míos?
🇬🇧 Your lips look lonely, would they like to meet mine?
🇪🇸 Dios debe estar distraído porque están cayendo los ángeles del cielo.
🇬🇧 God must be distracted, for angels are falling from the sky.
🇪🇸 ¿Acabas de salir del horno? ¡Porque estás caliente!
🇬🇧 Did you just come out of the oven? Because you are hot!
🇪🇸 ¿Hace calor aquí, o eres tú?
🇬🇧 Is it hot in here, or is it just you?
It is so cheesy it is almost funny, isn’t it?
In case you’d like to learn more about this “hot” Latin language, I highly recommend listening to Reggaeton music. The lyrics of those songs are packed with “mamita”, “caliente”, and “movimientos sexi” (hot moves).
And before I forget: a little piece of warning for my lady readers.
If you happen to travel to a Spanish speaking country, get ready to be complimented a lot. Not always in a pleasant way, though. It has taken me a while to get used to construction workers shouting improprieties after me on the street.
What used to be a surprising boost to my self-esteem, has quickly faded into a dreaded routine. My best advice is to ignore “piropos callejeros” (sidewalk compliments).
How to Flirt Back in Spanish – It Takes Two to Tango
So, that brown-eyed Latino has had his eyes on you the whole night? OMG, he’s so hot!
Finally, he mustered some courage, and now he’s heading your way. Why did it take him so long?
If he invites you to dance, what are you going to say?
If your strategy is to play hard to get, act surprised. But if you like the guy, here are some handy replies:
- 🇪🇸 Encantada – 🇬🇧 I’d love to!
- 🇪🇸 Llevo toda la noche esperando que me invitaras – 🇬🇧 I’ve been waiting all night for you to invite me.
- 🇪🇸 Ya pensé que nunca me ibas a invitar – 🇬🇧 I thought you’d never invite me.
- 🇪🇸 ¡Claro! Además, me encanta esta canción! – 🇬🇧 Sure! Plus, I love this song!
- 🇪🇸 ¿Por qué te demoraste tanto? – 🇬🇧 What took you so long?
- 🇪🇸 Feliz! Si no me hubieras invitado tú, te habría invitado yo! – 🇬🇧 I’d be happy to. If you hadn’t asked me, I’d have asked you myself.
- 🇪🇸 No me gusta mucho bailar. Pero sentémonos a conversar. – 🇬🇧 I don’t like dancing too much. But let’s sit down and talk.
And they lived happily ever after….
Unwanted Flirting – How to Respond in Spanish
Well, not necessarily. You might simply not like the guy. Or find him creepy. Or be in a relationship with someone else.
Whatever the reason, it is good to know how to say NO in Spanish if someone is hitting on you.
Here’s how it‘s done, depending on whether you want to turn them down nicely or are sick and tired with them stalking you:
- 🇪🇸 Me siento halagada, pero… – 🇬🇧 I feel flattered, but…
- 🇪🇸 Eres muy tierno, pero…– 🇬🇧 you’re very cute, but…
- 🇪🇸 Eres demasiado joven / chico para mí – 🇬🇧 You’re too young for me
- 🇪🇸 Eres como un hermano para mí – 🇬🇧 You’re like a brother to me
- 🇪🇸 No siento lo mismo por tí – 🇬🇧 I don’t feel the same way about you…
- 🇪🇸 No eres de mi tipo – 🇬🇧 You’re not my type
- 🇪🇸 Solo te quiero como amigo – 🇬🇧 I only like you as a friend
- 🇪🇸 No me interesa – 🇬🇧 I’m not interested.
- 🇪🇸 Estoy casado/a – 🇬🇧 I’m married
- 🇪🇸 Tengo novio/a – 🇬🇧 I have a boyfriend / girlfriend
- 🇪🇸 Estoy saliendo con alguien – 🇬🇧 I’m seeing someone
- 🇪🇸 No hablo con desconocidos – 🇬🇧 I don’t talk to strangers
- 🇪🇸 ¡Déjame en paz! – 🇬🇧 Leave me alone!
- 🇪🇸 ¡No insistas! – 🇬🇧 Don’t insist!
- 🇪🇸 ¡Piérdete! – 🇬🇧 Get lost!
- 🇪🇸 ¡Deja de seguirme! – 🇬🇧 Stop stalking me!
Applying the phrases above to real-life situations would look like this:
🇪🇸
A: ¿Quieres bailar?
B: Gracias, pero eres muy chico para mi. Podrías ser mi hijo.
🇬🇧
A: Do you want to dance?
B: Thanks, but you’re too young for me. You could be my son.
🇪🇸
A: ¿Te gustaría salir conmigo?
B: Lo siento, pero tengo novio.
🇬🇧
A: Would you like to hang out with me?
B: Sorry, I have a boyfriend.
🇪🇸
A: Oye, linda, ¿bailemos?
B: Lo lamento pero no bailo con desconocidos.
🇬🇧
A: Hey, babe, let’s dance!
B: Sorry, I don’t dance with strangers.
🇪🇸
A: ¿Te puedo invitar a comer? Me encantaría conocerte mejor.
B: Gracias, pero en realidad no me interesa. Siento decírtelo, pero no eres de mi tipo.
🇬🇧
A: Can I invite you out to eat? I’d love to get to know you better.
B: Sorry, but I am not really interested. I’m sorry to say that, but you’re not my type.
🇪🇸
A: ¿Me das tu número?
B: Ya te dije mil veces que no. ¡No insistas!
🇬🇧
A: Will you give me your number?
B: I’ve already said no like a thousand times. Don’t insist!
🇪🇸
A: María, eres el amor de mi vida. ¡Cásate conmigo!
B: No puedo. No sería justo. Solo te quiero como amigo.
🇬🇧
A: María, you are the love of my life! Marry me!
B: I can’t. It wouldn’t be fair. I only like you as a friend.
🇪🇸
A: Macarena ¿podemos hablar?
B: No tengo nada que decirte. ¡Déjame en paz!
🇬🇧
A: Macarena, ¿can we talk?
B: I have nothing to say to you. Leave me alone.
It looks like Macarena just broke that guy’s heart, hasn’t she?
Speaking of which, emotions, feelings, and moods is another fun topic to improve your Spanish vocabulary!
