Ways to say it
| Bosnian | Note |
|---|---|
| volim te | Latin |
| ja te volim | Latin |
This phrase is used to affirm romantic feelings. You can intensify these feelings by using the expression volim te puno (I love you a lot) or volim te jako. To express even deeper affection, you can say volim te i obožavam te (I love you and I adore you). For a more endearing tone, you can add terms like dušo (darling), ljubavi (love) or anđeo (angel), such as in volim te, dušo (I love you, darling). Another way to express affection is to say ti si mi drag(a) (You are dear to me) or hvala što postojiš (thank you for being there).
Which one should you use?
volim te is the standard way to say "I love you". In contrast, the form ja te volim includes the pronoun ja (I) at the beginning to emphasize the subject, often conveying the meaning "It is I who loves you" or adding extra emotional weight.
Is it said differently in some regions?
ja te volim is a common informal expression used in most regions of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Did you know?
- While volim te is for romance, Bosnians often use the verb ljubiti (to kiss) in the phrase ljubim te to express affection to children, parents or friends without implying romantic love.
- The word volim comes from a root that describes not just romantic love but also a strong desire or will. In Bosnian, this word is used to express liking everything from a partner to a specific type of food.
- The word te in this phrase shares a common ancestor with the Ukrainian word та, showing how deeply interconnected Slavic languages remain.
Examples in context
- Volim te više od svega.I love you more than anything.
Example conversation
Tarik and Selma are saying goodbye for the evening.
- TarikLaku noć, Selma. Volim te.Good night, Selma. I love you.
- SelmaLaku noć, Tarik. I ja tebe volim.Good night, Tarik. I love you too.
- TarikVidimo se sutra.See you tomorrow.
- SelmaJedva čekam.I can't wait.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “I love you” translations and entries ja te volim, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ja, te, CC BY-SA 4.0.
