Spanish Conversation · Level 17
89 words
Spanish word
obsesión
Pronunciation
IPA/oβseˈsjon/
Meaning
- feminine nounobsession
Example
Tiene obsesión por la limpieza.
He has an obsession with cleanliness.
More examples
Su obsesión por el trabajo afecta su salud.
His obsession with work affects his health.
Core concept
Persistent, dominating thought that occupies the mind.
Common phrases
tener obsesión por
have an obsession with
obsesión por
obsession with
obsesión con
obsession with
Similar words
adicción: Physical or psychological addiction to an activity or substance that is hard to give up.
fijación: Narrow, intense focus on one subject or person that persists over time.
compulsión: Urgent, uncontrollable need to perform specific acts repeatedly despite resistance.
preocupación: Ongoing concern or worry that returns repeatedly and disrupts calm.
Definition in Spanish
Preocupación o fijación persistente y dominante por algo que ocupa la mente y puede condicionar el comportamiento.
Word origin
From Latin obsessio 'siege', from ob- 'against' + sedere 'to sit', originally meaning to besiege and later used figuratively for something that 'sits on' the mind.
Usage tips
- Obsesión often sounds clinical in Spanish, so speakers commonly say me encanta, tengo afición por, or interés to describe strong likes without implying pathology.
Other meanings
- fixationnoun
Opposites
- desapegodetachmentnoun
- indiferenciaindifferencenoun
Related words
- obsesivoobsessiveadjective
- obsesionarobsessverb
- obsesionadoobsessedadjective