A guide to flirting in Spanish
Are you a Rico Suave? Or do you get anxious about flirting in Spanish?
There are many words in Spanish that you can use to talk about the age-old game of flirting: coquetear (to flirt), flirtear (to flirt; slang), hacer ojitos (to make eyes; slang for flirt) and ligar (to tie; slang for flirt), just to name a few.
If you’re living, traveling or studying in a Spanish-speaking country, maybe you are looking to take that crush to the next level. You’ll need to learn a few different phrases to make sure your crush knows you’re interested. Dating is a great way to practice and improve your Spanish!
Today, we’ll learn how to flirt in Spanish. First, we’ll review some classic flirting lines, then we’ll cover something arguably even more important — how to say no when you aren’t interested.
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How to flirt in Spanish
Even though there are cultural differences across the globe, the basics of flirting are the same. Start with the basics:
- Introduce yourself!
Hola, mucho gusto. Soy Sara. ¿y tú? (Hello, nice to meet you. I’m Sara, and you?)
- Next, ask them how they are doing.
¿Cómo estás? (How are you?)
¿Cómo te va? (How’s it going?)
- Who doesn’t want a free drink? Offer to buy one for your love interest.
¿Te puedo invitar una copa? (Can I buy you a drink?)
¿Qué quieres tomar? Yo te invito. (What do you want to drink? My treat.)
- Try complimenting their appearance or personality.
Qué linda sonrisa. (What a beautiful smile.)
Qué simpática eres. (You’re so funny.)
Cultural tips
Personal space for people in Latin American countries generally allows for closer interactions, and people usually touch each other more than in the US. It is common to greet people with un beso (a kiss). This greeting isn’t overly romantic — it typically involves a slight hug and a quick touch of the cheeks. Physical touch doesn’t always mean your crush is into you, too.
It can be also common to see men and women fall into stereotypical roles. Men are often expected to pay the bill at a restaurant, whereas women are often expected to be very put together.
The LGBTQ+ community is strong in many Latin American countries, but laws and customs may be different than what you’re accustomed to in the US or Europe. As always, if you decide to flirt with anyone, be sure the interest is mutual.
Classic flirting lines in Spanish
The information above is a way to test the waters with that crush. If you want to take things to the next level, learn these phrases.
Remember that nouns and adjectives in Spanish need to match in number and gender.
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| English | Spanish |
| You’re very attractive. | Eres muy atractivo/a. |
| Hello, beautiful. | Hola hermoso/a. |
| You look good. | Qué bien te ves. |
| You have beautiful eyes. | Tienes ojos hermosos. |
| Do you have a boyfriend/girlfriend? | ¿Tienes novio/a? |
| Can I have your number? | ¿Me pasas tu número? |
| What’s your Instagram? | ¿Cuál es tu Instagram? |
This next group of flirty lines is for the romantic (or cheesy) people out there.
| English | Spanish |
| I could lose myself in your eyes. | Podría perderme en tus ojos. |
| What’s a star doing flying so low? | ¿Qué hace una estrella volando tan bajo? |
| Don’t eat too much sugar, you’re sweet enough as is. | No tomes mucha azúcar, que ya eres muy dulce. |
| You’re an angel that’s fallen from heaven. | Eres un ángel que se ha caído del cielo. |
| There’s a party in my heart and you’re invited. | Hay una fiesta en mi corazón y tú estás invitado/a. |
| Your voice is music to my ears. | Tu voz es música para mis oídos. |
If you’re still looking for some inspiration to approach your crush, there are a million Spanish songs that can help you. Check out the hit “Despacito.”
How to say no to flirty lines in Spanish
Flirting is a fun part of life and it can be exciting to try it out in a different language. But we don’t always like the person who likes us. Let’s review how to turn down someone who has a crush on us.
| English | Spanish |
| No, thank you. | No, gracias. |
| No, thanks, I’m not interested. | No, gracias, no me interesa. |
| I’m sorry, I’m not interested. | Disculpa, no estoy interesado/a. |
| I have a boyfriend/girlfriend. | Tengo novio/a. |
| I just came here to have fun with my friends. | Solo vine a divertirme con mis amigos/as. |
| I’m not looking for anything right now. | Por ahora no estoy buscando nada. |
| I already said no. | Ya te dije que no. |
Qué bien te ves (You look good)
What are you waiting for? Go test the waters with that crush! Flirting in Spanish is a great way to meet people and improve your vocabulary. Get out there and practice some of the new lines you’ve learned. Just remember that love is the same around the world, but some customs can be a little different. Respect people and have fun.
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Alison Maciejewski Cortez
Alison Maciejewski Cortez is Chilean-American, born and raised in California. She studied abroad in Spain, has lived in multiple countries, and now calls Mexico home. She believes that learning how to order a beer in a new language reveals a lot about local culture. Alison speaks English, Spanish, and Thai fluently and studies Czech and Turkish. Her tech copywriting business takes her around the world and she is excited to share language tips as part of the Lingoda team. Follow her culinary and cultural experiences on X.
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