Ways to say it
| Indonesian | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| aku cinta kamu | /ˈaku ˈt͡ʃinta ˈkamu/ (Standard Indonesian, word by word) | |
| aku sayang kamu | /ˈaku ˈsajaŋ ˈkamu/ (Standard Indonesian, word by word) | |
| aku suka sama kamu | /ˈaku ˈsuka ˈsama ˈkamu/ (Standard Indonesian, word by word) | |
| saya cinta kamu | /ˈsaja ˈt͡ʃinta ˈkamu/ (Standard Indonesian, word by word) | formal, polite |
| aku mencintaimu | ||
| aku cinta padamu | poetic | |
| aku cinta kepadamu | poetic | |
| gua suka sama lu | Jakarta, slang |
The phrases used to express affection in Indonesian vary significantly depending on the intensity of the feeling and the type of relationship. aku cinta kamu is used to affirm intense romantic love. For a softer, more versatile expression of affection that can be used for romantic partners, family members and close friends, you may use aku sayang kamu. If you only want to express that you have a crush on someone or that you like them, aku suka sama kamu is a weaker expression of feeling.
What does it mean word for word?
The word cinta specifically refers to romantic or deep love. The word sayang refers to a sense of affection, fondness or caring that can be applied to many types of relationships.
Which one should you use?
While aku cinta kamu focuses on intense romantic love, aku sayang kamu is a more general term for affection or caring. For a lighter sentiment, aku suka sama kamu means "I like you" or "I have a crush on you." To add a literary or poetic touch, you can use aku cinta padamu or aku cinta kepadamu, which use the words pada or kepada before the pronoun.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The choice of pronouns determines the politeness and intimacy of the phrase. Using saya instead of aku in saya cinta kamu makes the phrase more formal and polite, though this is less common in intimate romantic settings than the informal aku. In very informal, colloquial settings among peers, you might hear the Jakarta slang gua suka sama lu.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Jakarta, the slang phrase gua suka sama lu is used, which utilizes the slang pronouns gua (for I) and lu (for you).
How does it change in a sentence?
The form aku mencintaimu is a specific grammatical construction created by adding the prefix men- and the suffix -i to the root cinta, and then attaching the shortened object pronoun -mu (a shortened form of kamu) directly to the verb.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈaku ˈtʃinta ˈkamu/
Did you know?
- The word cinta is actually derived from the Sanskrit word for 'thought' or 'anxiety', which suggests that romantic love is deeply connected to the act of thinking or worrying about someone.
- While English speakers use 'love' for many things, the Indonesian word sayang can also be used to express pity or regret, similar to saying 'what a shame' or 'it is a pity'.
- In Jakarta, the slang pronouns gua and lu in gua suka sama lu are borrowed from the Betawi language.
Examples in context
- Aku hanya ingin bilang aku cinta padamuI just wanted to tell you I love you.This sentence is useful for expressing a desire to tell someone you love them using aku cinta padamu.Tatoeba #3878473 by Bilmanda, translation #3202440 by CK
- Aku hanya ingin berkata bahwa aku cinta padamu.I just wanted to say that I love you.This sentence is useful for expressing the act of saying you love someone using aku cinta padamu.Tatoeba #3878480 by Bilmanda, translation #2240475 by Hybrid
- aku mencintaimuI love you.This sentence is an example of the form aku mencintaimu.Tatoeba #4230729 by ver50n, translation #1434 by awael58
- 8 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Rian confesses his feelings to Sari during a sunset walk.
- RianSari, sebenarnya aku cinta kamu.Sari, actually I love you.
- SariBenarkah? Aku juga cinta kamu, Rian.Really? I love you too, Rian.
- RianAku sangat bahagia mendengarnya.I am very happy to hear that.
- SariAku juga sangat bahagia.I am also very happy.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “I love you” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- IPA marked “word by word” joins the Wiktionary pronunciations of each word (aku, cinta, kamu, sayang, suka, sama, saya) and can differ in connected speech.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries aku, cinta, kamu, sama, sayang, suka, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
