aficionadas

Aficionadas is the feminine plural noun used in Spanish to refer to women who are fans or enthusiasts of a sport, team, or activity. The base noun afición denotes fondness, devotion, or a strong liking, and the related terms aficionado (masculine) and aficionada (feminine) describe a person who is a devotee. When applied to groups, aficionadas denotes female fans collectively; the masculine plural aficionados is used for men or mixed groups.

In usage, aficionadas appear across contexts, from sports such as fútbol, baloncesto, or tenis to cultural pursuits like music, theatre, or bullfighting, where loyal supporters are part of the spectatorship. In sports journalism, la afición refers to the fan base at large, while las aficionadas del club X refers to the female supporters of that club. The term is neutral with respect to status; it does not imply professional fandom, merely strong interest and regular attendance or involvement.

Sociolinguistic notes: Spanish distinguishes gender in denoting fans; afición can refer to the fans as a whole (la afición) or to individual fans (un aficionado/una aficionada). The visibility of aficionadas has grown with increased female participation in stadiums, media, and organized supporters’ groups, reflecting broader social changes in sports and culture.