Papá, te quiero
The phrase 'dad, I love you' in Spanish is Papá, te quiero.
What does it mean word for word?
The verb quiero is the first-person singular present indicative of querer, which literally means 'to want' but is the standard way to say 'to love' in a familial or friendly context.
How does it change in a sentence?
The word te is an object pronoun meaning 'you'. It is placed before the conjugated verb quiero to indicate that the person being loved is the listener.
Did you know?
- In some Latin American countries, a child might address their father as mi viejo meaning 'my old man' as a sign of deep love and respect.
- In some Spanish-speaking regions, people use the term papi as a general term of endearment for any male friend or partner, regardless of whether they are actually a father.
- If you were to say Papá, te amo instead of te quiero, it would sound much more intense, often reserved for profound, soul-level romantic or poetic devotion.
Examples in context
- Papá, te quiero mucho.Dad, I love you very much.
- Papá, te quiero, gracias por todo.Dad, I love you, thanks for everything.
- Dile a tu papá: Papá, te quiero.Tell your dad: Dad, I love you.
Example conversation
María gives her father a birthday card.
- María¡Feliz cumpleaños, Papá, te quiero!Happy birthday, Dad, I love you!
- MateoGracias, hija, también te quiero mucho.Thanks, daughter, I love you very much too.
- MaríaEres el mejor papá del mundo.You are the best dad in the world.
- MateoEres muy amable, María.You are very kind, María.
