eu te amo, pai
/ˈew t͡ʃi ˈɐ̃.mu ˈpaj/word by word
To say "I love you, dad" in Portuguese, you say eu te amo, pai.
This phrase is used to express affection and tell one's father that they are loved.
Which one should you use?
In Brazil, the pronoun te is used colloquially to mean "you" even when addressing a single person. In contrast, in European Portuguese, te is strictly second-person singular and the form amo-te is more common.
Is it said differently in some regions?
The usage of te to address a single person is common in Brazilian Portuguese, whereas European Portuguese speakers typically use amo-te.
How does it change in a sentence?
While eu te amo, pai is most common, eu o amo, pai is a more grammatically formal version that utilizes the third-person object pronoun.
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation is /ˈew tʃi ˈɐ̃.mu ˈpaj/. The stress is on the first of the four syllables.
Did you know?
- The word pai is actually a baby-talk version of the formal word padre. Over time, this child-speech form became the standard way to say 'dad' and 'father' in Portuguese.
- In some Portuguese-speaking cultures, affection for a father is more commonly expressed through the word quero bem rather than amo, as the latter can feel overwhelmingly strong.
- In many Brazilian families, the phrase eu te amo is often replaced by amo você or simply te amo to make the expression of love feel more natural and less dramatic.
Examples in context
- Eu te amo, Pai, pela sua dedicação e apoio incondicionalI love you, Dad, for your dedication and unconditional support
- Eu te amo, pai.I love you, dad.
- Sabe que eu te amo, pai?You know that I love you, dad?
Example conversation
Mariana is hugging her father before leaving for school.
- RodrigoTchau, filha! Tenha um bom dia.Bye, daughter! Have a good day.
- MarianaTchau! Eu te amo, pai.Bye! I love you, dad.
- RodrigoEu também te amo, Mariana.I love you too, Mariana.
- MarianaAté logo!See you later!
