Which one should you use?
While eu amo minha família is the standard way to express this, you can also use the expression Eu amo minha família demais to informally express an overwhelming sense of love.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Brazil, it is common to say Eu amo minha família by omitting the definite article. In Portugal, speakers often include the definite article, saying Eu amo a minha família.
How does it change in a sentence?
In natural, everyday speech, the subject pronoun eu (I) can be omitted because the verb conjugation amo already indicates the first person singular. Saying just amo minha família makes the phrase sound more natural and less emphatic. Additionally, as noted in regional usage, European Portuguese commonly includes the definite article a before the possessive pronoun minha.
How do you pronounce it?
The phrase is pronounced /ˈew ˈɐ̃.mu ˈmĩ.ɲɐ faˈmi.ljɐ/. It consists of 7 syllables, with the stress on the 1st syllable.
Did you know?
- The word família shares a root with the Latin familia, which originally referred to the entire household including servants and slaves, not just blood relatives.
- While amo means 'I love', the word amo also refers to a 'master' or 'owner' of a house in certain Portuguese contexts.
- The word família is used in Portuguese to describe not just kinship, but also a close-knit group of friends who have a bond as strong as blood.
Examples in context
- Eu amo minha família mais do que qualquer coisa.I love my family more than anything.This sentence is useful for emphasizing the depth of your affection by showing how much you love your family.Tatoeba #4524028 by ajdavidl, translation #4524022 by Hybrid
- Feliz aniversário! Amo muito vocês, minha família!Happy birthday! I love you all very much, my family!
- Eu amo minha família muito.I love my family a lot.
- Sempre digo que eu amo minha família.I always say that I love my family.
Example conversation
Two friends are talking about their values during a coffee break.
- FelipeVocê é muito dedicada aos seus parentes.You are very dedicated to your relatives.
- JulianaÉ verdade, eu amo minha família.It's true, I love my family.
- FelipeIsso é muito bonito, Juliana.That is very beautiful, Juliana.
- JulianaObrigada, Felipe.Thank you, Felipe.
Sources
- IPA marked “word by word” joins the Wiktionary pronunciations of each word (eu, amo, minha, família) and can differ in connected speech.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries amo, eu, família, minha, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
