Aficionado

[poli]

I am a little confused about this commonly used word. I know it means fan, and dictionaries state it means amateur as well. For clarity is it best to use hincha instead of aficionado with you wish to convey fan?

[AngelicaDeAlquezar]

An "aficionado" is a keen follower of an activity (someone who likes and knows about something like football, ballet, cooking, etc.).
It may also be a person who is not a professional of those activities, and practices them informally (like an amateur dancer, a non-professional football player, an amateur cook).

An "hincha" is specifically an enthusiast follower/supporter of some sports personality or team.
(I've never seen it used for a follower of a singer/actor/politician/etc.)

[poli]

Thank you.

So, how would you say amateur athlete?

[aleCcowaN]

atleta amateur
deportista amateur
deporte amateur
amateurismo

Aficionado is a bit ambiguous because it both describes the usual sport spectator and the non professional player. It's a word commonly used in dubbing exactly because of that ambiguity, as everybody understand it in context.