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verb

fascinar

fascinate

Provocar un interés muy fuerte o una gran admiración por algo o alguien.

Definition & meaning

Fascinar means to fascinate, captivate, or enthrall someone: to hold their attention or inspire strong interest or admiration. It can also mean to delight or enchant someone.

It is used in two common patterns:

  • Something fascinates someone: La historia me fascina (“The story fascinates me”).
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  • Someone captivates another person: El artista fascinó al público (“The artist captivated the audience”).
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Grammar & word origin

Fascinar is a regular -ar verb. Its present-tense form for él/ella/usted is fascina, and its past-tense form for él/ella/usted is fascinó.

In the pattern algo fascina a alguien, the thing that fascinates is the grammatical subject, while the person affected is often expressed with an indirect-object pronoun: Me fascina la ciencia (“Science fascinates me”).
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The verb comes from Latin fascinare, meaning “to enchant” or “to bewitch.”

Synonyms & antonyms

Synonyms

  • cautivar — to captivate; emphasizes holding someone’s attention.
  • encantar — to delight or charm; often expresses strong liking.
  • maravillar — to amaze or fill someone with wonder.
  • atraer — to attract or draw someone’s interest; generally less intense.

Antonyms

  • aburrir — to bore; the clearest opposite when fascinar means to hold someone’s interest.
  • repeler — to repel or put someone off; an opposite when fascinar means to attract or enchant.
  • desagradar — to displease; an opposite when fascinar means to delight.

Common phrases & collocations

  • fascinar a alguien — to fascinate or captivate someone.
  • me fascina — “I’m fascinated by it” or “I love it,” depending on context.
  • sentirse fascinado por — to feel fascinated by.
  • fascinar a primera vista — to captivate at first sight.

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Examples

A Sofía le fascina la ciencia ficción.verb

Sofía is fascinated by science fiction.

A mi hermano le fascinan las estrellas en la noche.verb

My brother is fascinated by the stars at night.

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