Spanish word

cortejo

Pronunciation

IPA/koɾˈtexo/

Meaning

  • masculine nouncourtship

Example

Ella rechazó el cortejo de su vecino.

She rejected her neighbor's courtship.

Illustration for cortejo (courtship)

More examples

Ella aceptó el cortejo y empezaron a salir juntos.

She accepted the courtship and they started going out together.

Core concept

Series of romantic gestures to win someone's affection.

Common phrases

  • cortejo amoroso

    romantic courtship

  • iniciar el cortejo

    begin courting

  • recibir el cortejo

    be courted

Similar words

coqueteo: Makes light, teasing advances to pique someone's interest and signal attraction.
romance: Shows a romantic relationship characterized by strong emotional passion and attachment.
pretendiente: Acts as a suitor who pursues someone with the intention of becoming their partner.
ligue: Entails casual dating or short-term flirtation without the expectation of commitment.

Definition in Spanish

Actos y gestos dirigidos a mostrar interés romántico y a ganarse el afecto de otra persona.

Word origin

The word comes from medieval corte 'court' plus the suffix -ejo, originally naming attendants at a court and later the acts of wooing associated with court life.

Usage tips

  • In everyday speech cortejo can sound formal or literary, so speakers usually prefer ligar or coquetear for casual flirting.

Other meanings

  • entouragenoun
  • funeral processionnoun

Opposites

Related words

  • cortejarcourtverb
  • cortejadorsuitornoun

Word lists with this word