Borrowed from Spanish aficionado, past participle of aficionar ("to inspire affection").

• (RP) IPA: /əˌfɪʃ.(j)əˈnɑː.dəʊ/, /əˌfɪʃ.i.əˈnɑː.dəʊ/, /əˌfɪs.jəˈnɑː.dəʊ/, /æˌfɪʃ.jɒˈnɑː.dəʊ/, /æ.fiː.θjəʊ.ˈnɑːðəʊ/
• (America) IPA: /əˌfɪʃ.(j)əˈnɑ.doʊ/, /əˌfɪʃ.i.əˈnɑ.doʊ/, /əˌfi.ʃ(i).əˈnɑ.doʊ/, /əˌfɪs.jəˈnɑ.doʊ/, /əˌfɪs.i.əˈnɑ.doʊ/, /əˌfi.si.əˈnɑ.doʊ/, /ɑˌfi.θjɔˈnɑ.ðɔ/, /ɑˌfi.sjɔˈnɑ.ðɔ/

aficionado (plural aficionados)

1. (obsolete) An amateur bullfighter. [19th c.]
2. A person who likes, knows about, and appreciates a particular interest or activity (originally bullfighting); a fan or devotee. [from 19th c.]

   Synonyms: admirer, buff, connoisseur, enthusiast, expert, fan, follower, lover, maven, Thesaurus:fan

   Coordinate terms: buff, -phile

   • 1992, Rudolf M[athias] Schuster, The Hepaticae and Anthocerotae of North America: East of the Hundredth Meridian, volume V, Chicago, Ill.: Field Museum of Natural History, →ISBN, page ix:

     To the "closet" taxonomist and aficionado of nomenclatural exercises, such emphasis may seem an intrusion.

• aficionada