Thank you! I've been using this word in portuguese (amador) and its so _so_ clear in that language, even so, I hadn't realized. Amar -> Amador (the one who loves it). Quite clearly.

Exactly, and "professional" means they do it for money.

The point is that "amateur" means literally "lover" in latin. While "professional" means "for money" today, in latin it meant "to profess a vow to do it with high standards".

For example, you can be a professional, but do things "pro bono" (for free or for public good) or "pro lucro" (for money).

"Doing something was a high standard" is still the main meaning of the word "professionell" in German. So someone can make something "unprofessionell" for money or "professionell" without payment.

Another word of classical origin with a striking difference is the meaning of the word "pathetisch" in German, which means "(exaggeratedly) passionate", which corresponds more or less to the meaning of the Ancient Greek word "pathetikos".

"Vocation" has undergone a similar shift; originally it meant a calling, or a summons.

It still does.

Just don't go looking for the etymology of "vanilla"

> The point is that "amateur" means literally "lover" in latin.

It doesn't mean anything in Latin. It means "lover" in French. Possibly a version of French from before "love" changed to "aimer".

But amateur has taken on a negative connotation in the common vernacular.

"Amateurish" or "amateurishly" feel damning and assertions about a certain absence of quality or attention to detail.

Describing someone as a "total amateur" feels a bit like calling them a hack.

This needs a separate word or concept.

The term 'nerd' needs to complete its rehabilitation like 'geek' has the last 20 years. It's the most concise term I can think of when describing someone who is enthusiastic, focused, and knowledgable on a subject. I think it's a badge of honor

There's "aficionado", though that feels a little pretentious

We could try reclaiming the word.

Dilletante already exists to mean someone who doesn’t do something with seriousness and amateur doesn’t carry the same connotation as amateurish anyway so you don’t really need a new word.

Nit: It's "Dilettante"