te amo
[ˈteː ˈa.moː]
The English phrase "I like you" can be expressed in Latin, and the default form is te amo.
In Latin, the way you express liking someone depends heavily on whether the feeling is romantic, based on esteem or intended for a group. While te amo is a way to express affection, it carries a heavy weight of romantic love.
Meaning: I like you (phrase)
Which one should you use?
The form te amo is much stronger than a simple "I like you" and is typically used for romantic love. If you wish to express that you like or esteem someone without that heavy romantic weight, use te diligo. If you want to express that someone is pleasing to you in a more formal way, you can use Mihi tu placēs, which translates to "You are pleasing to me".
How does it change in a sentence?
To say "I like/love you" to a group of people, change te to vos, as seen in the phrase vos amo.
Did you know?
- In Roman culture, the expression of affection was often tied to pietas, a sense of duty and loyalty that differs from modern romantic love.
- While te amo is the standard for love, the word diligo in te diligo is based on the root for 'selecting' or 'choosing'.
Examples in context
- Mihi tu valdē placēsYou are very pleasing to me
Example conversation
Julia and Marcus are talking in a garden.
- JuliaMarce, te amo.Marcus, I like you.
- MarcusEt ego te amo, Julia.And I like you too, Julia.
- JuliaEsne certus?Are you sure?
- MarcusIta, certe.Yes, certainly.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry te amo, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries amo, te, CC BY-SA 4.0.
