coquetear (spanish) - meaning, definition, translation, pronunciation

Part of Speech

Coquetear is a verb.

Phonetic Transcription

/ko.keˈte.aɾ/

Translation Options Into English

• To flirt
• To be flirty

Meaning and Usage

Coquetear refers to the act of flirting or showing romantic interest in someone in a playful and often lighthearted manner. It is commonly used in both oral speech and written contexts but tends to appear more frequently in informal conversations, social media, and romantic contexts. The frequency of its use may increase in social settings like dating or social gatherings.

Example Sentences

1. Ella siempre está coqueteando con sus compañeros de clase.
   She is always flirting with her classmates.

2. No sé si él realmente está interesado o solo está coqueteando.
   I don't know if he is really interested or just flirting.

3. En la fiesta, todos estaban coqueteando y disfrutando de la música.
   At the party, everyone was flirting and enjoying the music.

Idiomatic Expressions

Coquetear is frequently used in various idiomatic expressions. Here are some examples:

1. Coquetear con el peligro
2. To flirt with danger

3. Example: No deberías coquetear con el peligro al manejar tan rápido.
   You shouldn't flirt with danger by driving so fast.

4. Coquetear con la idea

5. To flirt with the idea

6. Example: Ella está coqueteando con la idea de mudarse a una nueva ciudad.
   She is flirting with the idea of moving to a new city.

7. No coquetear con fuego

8. Not to flirt with fire (to be cautious or avoid risky behavior)

9. Example: Si sigues ignorando las advertencias, estarás coqueteando con fuego.
   If you keep ignoring the warnings, you will be flirting with fire.

10. Coquetear a lo loco

11. To flirt carelessly
12. Example: Él coquetea a lo loco y no se da cuenta de las consecuencias.
    He flirts carelessly and doesn't realize the consequences.

Etymology

The word coquetear comes from the French word coquet, meaning "flirtatious" or "dandy." This French term derives from the older word coquet (which initially meant "a man who is overly concerned with his appearance") and has been integrated into Spanish as a verb.

Synonyms and Antonyms

Synonyms: - Flirtear (to flirt) - Seducir (to seduce) - Jugar (to play, in a romantic context)

Antonyms: - Ignorar (to ignore) - Rechazar (to reject) - Despreciar (to despise)

In conclusion, coquetear is a vibrant and culturally significant term in Spanish, primarily used in contexts of romance and playful interactions. Its usage spans various expressions that convey caution, lightheartedness, or carelessness, demonstrating the versatility of the word in conversation.