amante
Amante is a term used in several Romance languages, most commonly Italian, Spanish, and Portuguese, that designates a lover, especially a person with whom one has a romantic or sexual relationship outside the scope of a primary partnership. In Italian and Portuguese, the noun can refer to either a male or a female lover, with gender indicated by the definite or indefinite article (un amante / una amante; un amante / uma amante). In Spanish, amante likewise denotes a lover, with gender marked by the article (el/la amante). The word derives from Latin amans, meaning "loving" or "one who loves," from amare "to love."
In usage, amante carries connotations ranging from affectionate to illicit, depending on context. In literature and
English translations include lover or mistress, depending on context. Related terms include amor, amore, and the