kocham cię
/ˈkɔ.xam t͡ɕɛ/
The phrase "i love you" in Polish is kocham cię.
kocham cię is an affirmation of romantic feeling and is the most common and straightforward way to express this sentiment in Polish. It is used within romantic relationships and also among close friends and family.
Meaning: affirmation of romantic feeling (phrase)
Which one should you use?
The verb kocham is used to express deep, romantic or profound love. This differs from lubię, which is used when you simply like someone or something more casually.
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase kocham cię uses the singular informal pronoun cię, which is used when speaking to one person you are close to, such as a friend or a romantic partner. If you use the formal forms Pan or Pani, the object of the verb changes to the accusative case.
When do people say it?
A common response to hearing kocham cię is Ja ciebie też or simply Też cię kocham, which means "I love you too".
Did you know?
- While kocham cię is the standard, Polish speakers sometimes use the word kochanek to refer to a lover, but this term specifically implies a extramarital affair or a mistress/paramour rather than a-husband or wife.
- In Poland, the first person to say kocham cię in a new relationship is often seen as the one taking a significant emotional risk, as the phrase is traditionally reserved for serious commitment.
- In very intense, poetic, or old-fashioned Polish, one might use the word miłować instead of kochać to express a more sublime, spiritual type of love.
Examples in context
- Kocham cię, mój pająku.I love you, my spider.This example shows the phrase kocham cię used in a playful context.Tatoeba #9463273 by Shounen, translation #9463275 by Shounen
- Kocham cię z całego serca.I love you with all my heart.This example demonstrates how to use kocham cię to express deep emotion.Tatoeba #852882 by zipangu, translation #68788 by CK
- Kocham Cię – Ja Ciebie też."I love you." "I love you, too."This example shows a common exchange using the phrase kocham cię.Tatoeba #4108311 by konrad509, translation #1655606 by gleki
- 16 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
A romantic evening at a restaurant.
- PiotrKocham cię, Małgorzato.I love you, Małgorzata.
- MałgorzataA ja kocham ciebie, Piotrze.And I love you, Piotr.
- PiotrJesteś dla mnie wszystkim.You are everything to me.
- MałgorzataTo najpiękniejsze słowa.Those are the most beautiful words.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “i love you” translations and entries kocham cię, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
