What is love? Que es el amor?

November 5, 2007 at 8:57 pm | In American Culture, Communication, Contemporary Spanish, El Deso, Hispanic, Humor, Latin Culture, Learning English, Learning Spanish, Literature, Modern Spanish, NYC Local, New York City, New York Spanish, Pop Culture, Quotes, Refran, Refranes, Sabor Latino, World History | 20 Comments
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Love is an abstract concept that is easier to experience than to explain.

A picture of the chemistry of love is the following:

The chemistry of love!

Love, which means “el amor” in Spanish, has many different meanings. From something that gives pleasure (like in English you would say “I love that perfume or that food”) to something one would die for (like patriotism).

Love can also describe an intense feeling of emotion, affection or an emotional state. It usually refers to interpersonal love.

Love is one of the most common themes in art due to its psychological relevance. It is inherent in all human cultures and because all cultures are different the definition of love is difficult to establish.

Interpersonal love refers to the love between human beings; exists between family members, friends and couples. Some feelings that are related to interpersonal love are:

Affection: feelings of tenderness usually wanting physical closeness.
Friendship: which basically mean the spirit between friends.
Reciprocation: the need and desire of mutual love.
Commitment: it is a desire and effort to maintain love.
Kinship: the family bonds.
Passion: it is a desire, a wholehearted desire.
Altruism: it is a selfless or unselfish concern for another.
Emotional intimacy: basically sharing intimate emotions and feelings.
Physical intimacy: it is a sharing of intimate personal space.
Attachment: the need of satisfying basic emotional needs.
Service: the need and desire to help others.

Love is usually represented by a red heart, like this one:

Love is patient; love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, and it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, it always trusts; it always hopes, it always perseveres.
1 Corinthians 13:5-7

I found a great site to enjoy for those who like love songs lyrics of all time. It features eloquent love quotes and easy to understand romantic poems. You can find all this and more in this fantastic site dedicated to romantic song lyrics:

http://www.romantic-lyrics.com/

This same site offers love songs in Spanish. It features a long list of songs and it gets much better: you can play them for free!! Absolutely free – that means there is no catch!

Love is not only related to human beings, also to those beings that are able to develop emotional links and connections with others, such as dogs, dolphins, horses and elephants.

Art.com has hearts and lots of cool graphics!

Among the different types of love that exist; we have the romantic and passionate love; the platonic love and the family love; the love for God; for the nature and humanity. Last but not least, love is sometimes expressed as empathy towards others.

The feeling of love is commonly and usually satisfied when it is expressed in reciprocal or mutual capacity.

We can talk forever about love; about what is considered and defined in every culture and religion of the world.
But, what does love mean to you? How do you define love? How do you understand love in our society?

20 Comments »

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  1. good ….perfect

    Comment by stacy — December 7, 2007 #

  2. hi ana fadi love nicole inti 7ab 2awal wa 2a5ir nicole

    Comment by fadi — December 23, 2007 #

  3. dfk ldso ana fadi

    Comment by fadi — December 23, 2007 #

  4. This site doesn’t egnite the pain which is juxtaposed with the pleasure of love. Or the way the absence of love can destroy the self. Or how the torchered become torchers. I wish it was all rose petals, fluffy bunnies and bright illuminations. Coloured spectrums and softness. But love can be evil, an enemy to the soul if love is put in the wrong hands. And who tells us who we should love? As the diagram suggests it’s purely a brain chemical reaction. Uncontrollable. We are victims of our mind.

    Comment by Weener — March 16, 2008 #

  5. hiya howz u ??
    mah name is terri Mclatchie x

    Comment by Terri — March 28, 2008 #

  6. my love is very gd X

    Comment by Terri — March 28, 2008 #

  7. Love is Sex and harmony.

    Comment by Mobilez — March 29, 2008 #

  8. hey love you

    Comment by ashlee — March 30, 2008 #

  9. i dont beleive in love it is just an timepass

    Comment by veer — April 3, 2008 #

  10. [...] What is love? [...]

    Pingback by Spanish love phrases « The Vaya Blog: Just A ‘Lil NYC Spanglish! — May 30, 2008 #

  11. Hay una pregunta grande. Who can possibly get to the bottom of this one? We need to love each other because humanity woudn’t survive if we couldn’t work together and have offspring. We aren’t cells that can just divide and create more of ourselves (but what a lot of trouble that would save!).

    Gracias por preguntarnos. This discussion could go on forever.

    Comment by rwhackman — July 1, 2008 #

  12. favorited this one, bro

    Comment by tubPlort — September 22, 2008 #

  13. lov ehurst a lot thats the only true thing

    Comment by Fdl — November 19, 2008 #

  14. una pregunta algien me puede explicar qhy love hurts mucho?send su respuesta a eduardo6875@hotmail.com

    Comment by fdl — November 19, 2008 #

  15. love is lust or love

    Comment by tabz — February 5, 2009 #

  16. I feel the need to share this: “Dear friends,let us love one another,for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.Whoever does not love does not know God,because God is love.” (1 John 4:7-8) God is love…if you really want to know what love is then that’s something you should experiment with…

    Comment by Cat — February 9, 2009 #

  17. I feel the need to share this: “Dear friends,let us love one another,for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.Whoever does not love does not know God,because God is love.” (1 John 4:7-8) God is love…if you really want to know what love is then that’s something you should experiment with…if your really interested in learning more about love pick up the Holy Bible and read 1 John,chapter 4…God Bless!

    Comment by Cat — February 9, 2009 #

  18. I feel the need to share this: “Dear friends,let us love one another,for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.Whoever does not love does not know God,because God is love.” (1 John 4:7-8) God is love…if you really want to know what love is then that’s something you should experiment with…if your really interested in learning more about love pick up the Holy Bible and read 1 John,chapter 4…God Bless!

    Comment by Cat — February 9, 2009 #

  19. I feel the need to share this: “Dear friends,let us love one another,for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.Whoever does not love does not know God,because God is love.” (1 John 4:7-8) God is love…if you really want to know what love is then that’s something you should experiment with…if your really interested in learning more about love pick up the Holy Bible and read 1 John,chapter 4…God Bless!

    Comment by Cat — February 9, 2009 #

  20. i want to se this picture ok

    Comment by iolanda gomes — February 13, 2009 #


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