Spanish vocabulary · Beginner
How to Say Valentine's Day in Spanish: Día de San Valentín & Día del Amor y la Amistad
Día de San Valentín · noun (masculine, proper noun) · DEE-ah deh sahn bah-lehn-TEEN
Valentine's Day is Día de San Valentín in Spanish, celebrated on February 14. Many Latin American countries — notably Mexico and Colombia — call it Día del Amor y la Amistad (Day of Love and Friendship), emphasizing that the holiday celebrates all forms of love, including platonic friendship. San Valentín alone is commonly used as a shorthand.
Día de San Valentín is DEE-ah deh sahn bah-lehn-TEEN. Note that the V in Valentín is pronounced as a soft b (bah), following standard Spanish pronunciation.
¿Qué planes tienes para el Día de San Valentín?
What plans do you have for Valentine's Day?
Valentine's Day in Spanish: Quick Reference
Below are the most common Spanish words for valentines day, with pronunciation and regional usage notes.
| Spanish | English | Pronunciation | Region / Register |
|---|---|---|---|
| Día de San Valentín | valentines day | DEE-ah deh sahn bah-lehn-TEEN | Default, widely understood |
| Día del Amor y la Amistad | valentines day | Mexico, Colombia — Day of Love and Friendship | |
| San Valentín | valentines day | Universal — shortened form |
How Native Speakers Use Día de San Valentín
Real example sentences across three contexts you'll actually run into.
Romantic plans
Para San Valentín le voy a regalar rosas y una cena especial.
For Valentine's Day I'm going to give her roses and a special dinner.
Regalar means to give as a gift. Rosas are a traditional Valentine's Day gift across the Spanish-speaking world.
Friendship celebration
En México celebramos el Día del Amor y la Amistad con amigos y pareja.
In Mexico we celebrate the Day of Love and Friendship with friends and partners.
The 'friendship' component makes this holiday more inclusive in Latin America. Friends exchange gifts, not just romantic partners.
Commercial context
Las tiendas se llenan de corazones y chocolates semanas antes de San Valentín.
Stores fill up with hearts and chocolates weeks before Valentine's Day.
Corazones (hearts) and chocolates are the universal commercial symbols. Llenarse de means to fill up with.
Avoid These Mistakes When Using Día de San Valentín
Translating Valentine's as Valentino
Incorrect: Feliz Día de Valentino.
Correct: Feliz Día de San Valentín.
Valentino is not the Spanish form. The holiday is named after San Valentín (Saint Valentine). The 'San' (Saint) is essential to the name.
Forgetting the accent on Valentín
Incorrect: Día de San Valentin.
Correct: Día de San Valentín.
The accent on the final í marks the stress on the last syllable: bah-lehn-TEEN. Without it, the stress would shift incorrectly.
Lock in Valentine's Day Vocabulary with the Parrot Method
Why word lists alone don't stick
Memorizing a translation feels productive, but most learners forget 70% of what they studied within 48 hours. Vocabulary needs spaced repetition AND real-world exposure to transfer to long-term memory.
See Día de San Valentín used by native speakers
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Common Questions About Valentine's Day in Spanish
- Why is it called Día del Amor y la Amistad in some countries?
- The expanded name emphasizes that February 14 celebrates all kinds of love, not just romantic. In Mexico, Colombia, and several other Latin American countries, friends exchange gifts and cards too. It makes the holiday more communal and less exclusively romantic.
- Is Valentine's Day celebrated in Spain?
- Yes, Spain celebrates San Valentín on February 14, though it has traditionally been seen as more commercialized and imported from American culture. It is increasingly popular, especially among younger generations.
- How do I say 'Be my Valentine' in Spanish?
- Sé mi Valentín / Valentina. Or more naturally: ¿Quieres ser mi pareja de San Valentín? (Do you want to be my Valentine?). A simpler version: Feliz San Valentín, mi amor (Happy Valentine's Day, my love).