aficionado

Sometimes af·fi·cio·na·do

[uh-fish-yuh-nah-doh, ah-fee-thyaw-nah-thaw, ah-fee-syaw-]

noun

plural

aficionados 

1. an ardent devotee; fan, enthusiast.

aficionado

/ afiθjoˈnaðo, əˌfɪʃjəˈnɑːdəʊ /

noun

1. an ardent supporter or devotee

   a jazz aficionado

2. a devotee of bullfighting

Word History and Origins

Origin of aficionado¹

First recorded in 1835–45; from Spanish: literally, “amateur,” past participle -ado ( -ate ¹ ) of aficionar “to engender affection,” equivalent to afición affection ¹ + -ar infinitive suffix

Word History and Origins

Origin of aficionado¹

Spanish, from aficionar to arouse affection, from afición _affection

Example Sentences

After three years with the ascot aficionados, I realized that the cultural gulf between us wasn’t a cause of inequality; it was a symptom of it.

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From breakout comedians to beauty innovators, this year's nominees include jacket potato entrepreneurs, tap dancing brothers, a bus loving aunty, a BookTok aficionado and a film location fangirl.

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But when lightning strikes, and water, oats and salt harmonize in just the right combination of color, consistency and flavor, it can be a thing of beauty, aficionados say.

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And it’s big enough that users feel they can anonymously sneak into the facilities without buying anything, Manhattan bathroom aficionados said.

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The film is like a fountain of champagne for theater aficionados.

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Related Words

• connoisseur 
• devotee 
• enthusiast 
• fanatic