Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA |
|---|---|
| te amo | /te ˈamo/ |
| te quiero | /te ˈkjeɾo/ |
These phrases are used to affirm romantic or deep affectionate feelings. While both translate to "I love you," they differ in intensity and the type of relationship they describe.
What does it mean word for word?
In the phrase te amo, te is the direct object pronoun for "you" and amo is the first-person singular conjugation of the verb amar, which means "to love".
Which one should you use?
Te quiero is used for friends, family or during the earlier stages of a romantic relationship. In contrast, te amo expresses a much deeper, more intense and profound romantic or soulful love.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Spain, Te quiero is the more common way to express love, whereas Te amo is often associated with more dramatic or poetic expressions of love.
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase te quiero uses the verb querer, which literally means "to want" but serves as the standard way to express affection to friends and family.
How do you pronounce it?
/te ˈamo/
Did you know?
- The verb amar is used in the Spanish translation of the Bible to describe the love of God, which contributes to its association with 'soulful' or 'sacred' love.
- While te amo is more intense, it can sound almost too theatrical or like a line from a soap opera if used in casual settings.
- The verb in te quiero is the same verb used to express 'I want' for objects, such as 'quiero un café'.
Examples in context
- Sé que te amo.I know I love you.This sentence uses te amo to show knowledge of one's feelings.Tatoeba #2412405 by marcelostockle, translation #2375989 by CK
- Te amo, tesoro mío.I love you, sweetheart.This sentence uses te amo as a term of endearment for a sweetheart.Tatoeba #1277931 by marcelostockle, translation #139171 by fengrim
- Te amo tal como sos.I love you just as you are.This sentence uses te amo to express love for someone exactly as they are.Tatoeba #998944 by hayastan, translation #386518 by Dorenda
- Te amo, mi vidaI love you, my life
- Te quiero mucho, amiguitoI love you very much, little friend
- 132 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
A romantic evening at a park.
- SofíaEres el hombre de mi vida, Mateo.You are the man of my life, Mateo.
- MateoY yo te amo a ti, Sofía.And I love you, Sofía.
- SofíaTe amo con todo mi corazón.I love you with all my heart.
- MateoYo también te amo.I love you too.
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.
