te amo
/te ˈamo/
In Spanish, 'I love you' is expressed as te amo or te quiero.
Meaning: affirmation of romantic feeling (phrase)
Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA |
|---|---|
| te amo | /te ˈamo/ |
| te quiero | /te ˈkjeɾo/ |
These phrases are used to affirm romantic feelings or affection. While both translate to 'I love you', they carry different weights of intensity and are used in different social contexts.
Which one should you use?
te quiero is the more casual and common way to say 'I love you' to friends, family or romantic partners in the early stages of a relationship. In contrast, te amo is much more intense and is reserved for deep, serious romantic commitment.
How does it change in a sentence?
In both phrases, te is the direct object pronoun meaning 'you'.
How do you pronounce it?
/te ˈamo/
Did you know?
- The phrase te quiero literally translates to 'I want you', but in a romantic context, it has evolved to mean 'I love you' and loses that sense of possession.
- Spanish speakers may use te quiero for pets and inanimate objects, but te amo is almost exclusively reserved for humans.
- While te amo is the peak of romantic passion, using it too early in a relationship can actually be a 'red flag' for some people, as it implies a level of intensity that might feel overwhelming.
Examples in context
- Sé que te amo.I know I love you.This sentence shows how to use te amo to express certainty of one's love.Tatoeba #2412405 by marcelostockle, translation #2375989 by CK
- Te amo, tesoro mío.I love you, sweetheart.This sentence uses te amo in an affectionate address to a sweetheart.Tatoeba #1277931 by marcelostockle, translation #139171 by fengrim
- Te amo tal como sos.I love you just as you are.This sentence uses te amo to express unconditional love for someone's character.Tatoeba #998944 by hayastan, translation #386518 by Dorenda
- Señorita Pérez, le quiero agradecer por su amabilidad y le amo como una hija.Miss Pérez, I want to thank you for your kindness and love you as a daughter.
- ¡Te quiero tanto, hermano! Eres mi mejor amigo y mi apoyo incondicional.I love you so much, brother! You are my best friend and my unconditional support.
- Carolina, te amo con todo mi corazón. No puedo imaginar mi vida sin ti.Carolina, I love you with all my heart. I can't imagine my life without you.
- 132 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
A couple is having a romantic dinner at home.
- JavierTe amo, Elena.I love you, Elena.
- ElenaY yo te amo, Javier.And I love you, Javier.
- JavierEres lo mejor de mi vida.You are the best thing in my life.
- ElenaEres el hombre de mis sueños.You are the man of my dreams.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “I love you” translations and entries te amo, te quiero, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
