aficionado
UK: əˌfɪʃɪəˈnɑːdəʊ | US: əˌfɪʃiəˈnɑːdoʊ
n. a person who is very knowledgeable and enthusiastic about an activity, subject, or pastime; a devotee or fan.
The word aficionado entered English from Spanish, where it originally referred to someone with a deep passion for bullfighting. Over time, it broadened to describe enthusiasts of any pursuit. The Latin root affectio reflects emotional attachment, which evolved into Spanish afición ("fondness") and later aficionado ("one who is fond of"). The suffix -ado marks the person embodying the trait, creating a vivid term for devoted followers.
He’s a true aficionado of jazz music, owning thousands of rare records.
As a wine aficionado, she can identify regional flavors with remarkable precision.
The café attracts coffee aficionados who appreciate its artisanal brewing methods.
My uncle, a cigar aficionado, travels to Cuba annually to purchase rare blends.
The film festival was packed with cinema aficionados eager to see indie productions.