Which one should you use?
You may also say amo a mi marido, as marido is a synonym for esposo. There is a distinction in intensity between the verbs used: amo expresses deep, intense romantic love, whereas quiero is a common, slightly less intense way to say "I love" that is frequently used in both romantic and familial contexts.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In certain regions, including Latin America, it is common to affectionately refer to your husband as mi viejo, which translates to "my old man".
How does it change in a sentence?
In the phrase amo a mi esposo, the a between amo and mi esposo is the personal a, which is required in Spanish when the direct object is a specific person. To change the tense to the third-person singular past tense (he/she loved), the verb changes to amó, as in amó a su esposo.
How do you pronounce it?
/amo a mi esposo/
Did you know?
- The word esposo shares a distant ancestor with the English word 'spend', as both trace back to a Proto-Indo-European root meaning to pledge or promise.
- In Spanish, the word amo can also mean 'master' or 'owner' in a completely different context, though the romantic meaning is clear from the sentence structure.
- While amo is used for deep love, some speakers use the diminutive maridito or esposito to add a layer of sweetness and tenderness.
Examples in context
- A veces simplemente digo: amo a mi esposo.Sometimes I simply say: I love my husband.
- Él es increíble y amo a mi esposo con todo mi corazón.He is incredible and I love my husband with all my heart.
- No puedo ocultar que amo a mi esposo.I cannot hide that I love my husband.
Example conversation
Sofía is talking to her friend about her marriage.
- SofíaAmo a mi esposo.I love my husband.
- Javier¿De verdad? ¿Cómo es ©©el?Really? What is he like?
- Sofía©©Es muy amable y cariñoso.He is very kind and affectionate.
- Javier¡Qué bueno, Sofía!That's great, Sofía!
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries a, amo, esposo, mi, CC BY-SA 4.0.
