Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA |
|---|---|
| te amo | /te ˈamo/ |
| te quiero | /te ˈkjeɾo/ |
Spanish uses different phrases depending on the intensity and type of affection being expressed. te amo is used to express intense romantic love and is equivalent to saying 'I love you deeply'. te quiero is more suitable for expressing general love. For even stronger affection, you can use te adoro, which translates to 'I adore you' or you can intensify te quiero by saying te quiero mucho to mean you love someone a lot.
Which one should you use?
While both mean 'I love you', the distinction lies in the depth of the relationship. te amo is typically reserved for profound familial love or deep romantic love. te quiero is more common for friends, family members and people in the early stages of dating.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Latin American countries, the phrase te amo un montón is used to express deep love and affection, translating to 'I love you a ton'.
How does it change in a sentence?
When addressing a group of people in Spain, you should use os amo or os quiero instead of the forms used elsewhere. If you want to say 'I love him' or 'I love her' instead of 'you', replace the pronoun te with lo for a masculine object or la for a feminine object.
How do you pronounce it?
/te ˈamo/
Did you know?
- Spanish has a unique word querencia, derived from the same root as te quiero, describing a place where one feels safe and at home.
- The word amo is also a noun in Spanish that means 'master' or 'owner', such as a 'master' of a house.
- In many Latin American countries, te quiero is actually the primary way to express romantic love to a partner, whereas te amo is reserved for much more serious or eternal commitments.
Examples in context
- Sé que te amo.I know I love you.This sentence is useful for practicing the use of te amo.Tatoeba #2412405 by marcelostockle, translation #2375989 by CK
- Te amo, tesoro mío.I love you, sweetheart.Tatoeba #1277931 by marcelostockle, translation #139171 by fengrim
- Te amo tal como sos.I love you just as you are.Tatoeba #998944 by hayastan, translation #386518 by Dorenda
- 132 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
A couple is having a romantic dinner at home.
- AlejandroEres lo mejor de mi vida, te amo.You are the best thing in my life, I love you.
- LucíaY yo te amo a ti, Alejandro.And I love you, Alejandro.
- AlejandroGracias por estar siempre conmigo.Thank you for always being with me.
- LucíaSiempre estaré a tu lado.I will always be by your side.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “I love you” translations and entries te amo, te quiero, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
