mi amo
The English phrase 'I love myself' is translated into Italian as mi amo.
mi amo is used to say 'I love myself'.
Which one should you use?
While mi amo can mean 'I love myself' in a self-esteem context, it is more commonly used in Italian to express being in love with oneself (narcissism). To express a strong and passionate self-love sentiment, you can use the phrase Mi amo da impazzire, which means 'I love myself like crazy'.
How does it change in a sentence?
In a standard declarative sentence, the reflexive pronoun mi must precede the conjugated verb amo.
Did you know?
- The verb amo shares a distant root with the English word 'hook', via the Latin hāmus, which originally referred to a 'hook' or 'peg'.
- If an Italian person says Mi amo while looking in a mirror, they are often making a joke about being incredibly vain.
- In Italian, the word amore is frequently used as a term of endearment for partners, children and even pets, functioning like the English word 'honey' or 'sweetie'.
Examples in context
- Mi voglio tanto bene, quindi mi piace sempre viziarmi un po'.I love myself a lot, so I always enjoy pampering myself a little.
- Mi amo molto.I love myself very much.
- Prima di tutto, mi amo.First of all, I love myself.
- Devo imparare a dirmi che mi amo.I must learn to tell myself that I love myself.
Example conversation
Two friends are discussing personal growth over coffee.
- AlessandroÈ importante prendersi cura di sé.It is important to take care of oneself.
- SofiaSì, e io finalmente mi amo.Yes, and I finally love myself.
- AlessandroSono felice per te, Sofia.I am happy for you, Sofia.
- SofiaGrazie, Alessandro.Thank you, Alessandro.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries amo, mi, CC BY-SA 4.0.
