te amo, primo
/t͡ʃi ˈɐ̃.mu ˈpɾĩ.mu/word by word
The English phrase "I love you, cousin" is translated into Portuguese as te amo, primo.
This phrase is an expression of affection used to tell a cousin that you love them.
Which one should you use?
While te amo, primo is a standard way to express this, amo você, primo is a common alternative in many Brazilian dialects, particularly in areas where você is the standard second-person pronoun.
How does it change in a sentence?
In the phrase te amo, primo, the subject eu (I) is often omitted, but you can include it to say eu te amo, primo if you want to add emphasis. Use the feminine form prima if the cousin is female.
How do you pronounce it?
The phrase is pronounced /tʃi ˈɐ̃.mu ˈpɾĩ.mu/. It consists of 5 syllables, with the stress on the 2nd syllable.
Did you know?
- The pronoun te in te amo descends from the Proto-Indo-European root *twé, making it a distant relative of the English word 'thee'.
- While te amo is used for cousins, Portuguese speakers often use the phrase gosto muito de você for friends and family to avoid the intense romantic weight of the verb amar.
- In many Portuguese-speaking cultures, the bond between primos is historically treated as being almost as close as the bond between siblings.
Examples in context
- Eu amo você, primo. Você é uma pessoa incrível e especial para mim. Lembro-me de todos os momentos divertidos que compartilhamos juntos e sou grata por ter você na minha vida. Te adoro muito!I love you, cousin. You are an incredible and special person to me. I remember all the fun moments we shared together, and I am grateful to have you in my life. I adore you so much!
- Te amo, primo!I love you, cousin!
- Você é o melhor, te amo, primo.You are the best, I love you, cousin.
- Sempre estarei aqui, te amo, primo.I will always be here, I love you, cousin.
Example conversation
Felipe is saying goodbye to his male cousin before leaving.
- FelipeTchau! Te amo, primo.Bye! I love you, cousin.
- JulianaEu também te amo, Felipe!I love you too, Felipe!
- FelipeA gente se vê logo.We will see each other soon.
- JulianaCom certeza. Até logo!For sure. See you later!
