affection
word
/əˈfɛkʃən/
uh-FEK-shuhn
/ɐfˈɛkʃən/
uh-FEK-shuhn
Definition
A warm feeling of love, liking, or care for someone or something. It is often shown through kind words, attention, or physical closeness.
Usage & Nuances
Common in slightly formal or emotional contexts. Often appears in phrases like 'show affection', 'feel affection for', and 'signs of affection'. It is warmer and more emotional than 'liking', but usually broader and softer than romantic 'love'.
Spanish: afecto - cariñoPortuguese (BR): afeto - carinhoPortuguese (PT): afeição - carinhoChinese (Simplified): 喜爱 - 爱意 - affectional 感情Chinese (Traditional): 喜愛 - 愛意 - 感情Hindi: स्नेह - प्यारभरा लगावArabic: مودة - حنانBengali: স্নেহ - মমতাRussian: привязанность - любовь (не романтическая)Japanese: 愛情（あいじょう） - 愛着（あいちゃく）Vietnamese: sự trìu mến - tình cảmKorean: 애정 - 다정함Turkish: sevgi - şefkatUrdu: محبت - پیارIndonesian: kasih sayang - afeksi
Example Sentences
Children need affection from their parents.
basic
She showed her dog a lot of affection.
basic
I feel a lot of affection for my grandmother.
basic
He isn't great with words, but he shows affection in small ways.
natural
Public affection makes her uncomfortable.
natural
You can hear the affection in his voice when he talks about his hometown.
natural