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cautivar means to captivate — a common term in Beautiful Spanish. Learn how it's used in a real-world example.

📅 Published: July 21, 2025

✨ Beautiful Spanish

cautivar

verb • /[kah-oo-tee-VAR]/

to captivate

Example:

Tus palabras cautivaron mi mente inquieta.

Your words captivated my restless mind.

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🧠 What does cautivar mean?

Cautivar means to charm, enchant, or fascinate someone or something. It implies capturing someone's attention and admiration, often by beauty, skill, or other attractive qualities. Think of it as casting a spell, but in a positive way!

📚 Extra examples

  • Su voz cautivó a la audiencia.
    Her voice captivated the audience.
  • El mago cautivó a los niños con sus trucos.
    The magician captivated the children with his tricks.
  • La belleza del paisaje nos cautivó.
    The beauty of the landscape captivated us.
  • Quedé cautivado por su sonrisa.
    I was captivated by her smile.

❓ FAQ

How do you say 'to captivate' in Spanish?
The most common way to say 'to captivate' in Spanish is 'cautivar'.
How do you pronounce 'cautivar' in Spanish?
Cautivar is pronounced kow-tee-VAR, with the stress on the last syllable.
How do you use 'cautivar' in a sentence?
Here are a few examples: 'Su actuación cautivó al público.' (Their performance captivated the audience.) 'La ciudad me cautivó con su encanto.' (The city captivated me with its charm.)
What is the English translation of 'cautivar'?
The English translation of 'cautivar' is 'to captivate'.
Does 'cautivar' change for gender or number?
Yes, 'cautivar' conjugates like a regular -ar verb. For example, 'yo cautivo' (I captivate), 'tú cautivas' (you captivate), 'él/ella/usted cautiva' (he/she/you formal captivate), 'nosotros/nosotras cautivamos' (we captivate), 'vosotros/vosotras cautiváis' (you plural captivate), 'ellos/ellas/ustedes cautivan' (they/you plural captivate).
Is 'cautivar' common in everyday Spanish?
Yes, 'cautivar' is a relatively common word used in both spoken and written Spanish.
Does 'cautivar' have slang or double meanings?
No, 'cautivar' doesn't typically have slang or double meanings. Its meaning is generally straightforward.
Is 'cautivar' used differently in Spain vs Latin America?
No, the meaning and usage of 'cautivar' are consistent across Spain and Latin America.
How do you conjugate 'cautivar' in Spanish?
Here's the present tense conjugation: Yo cautivo Tú cautivas Él/Ella/Usted cautiva Nosotros/Nosotras cautivamos Vosotros/Vosotras cautiváis Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes cautivan

🔁 Synonyms & opposites of "cautivar"

Synonyms: encantar, fascinar, atraer, seducir
Opposites: aburrir, desinteresar, repeler

💡 Did You Know?

Cautivar comes from the Latin word 'captivāre,' which means 'to take captive' or 'to enslave.' Over time, the meaning softened to the more positive sense of captivating someone's attention and admiration.

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