Je t'aime
romantic, family
In Canadian French you say Je t'aime for "I love you". It is used for a partner and also for close family. Je t'adore is lighter and more playful. It is also called je t'aime tellement.
Meaning: declaration of love (phrase)
Ways to say it
| French | Note |
|---|---|
| Je t'aime | romantic, family |
| je t'aime tellement | emphatic |
| je t'adore | lighter |
Parents often say Je t'aime to their children. With a partner you can add a pet name, as in Je t'aime, mon amour.
Which one should you use?
Je t'aime is the same in Quebec and France. Je t'adore can be used for friends or for things you like very much.
How do you pronounce it?
Je t'aime sounds like "zhuh tem". In casual Quebec speech je often shrinks to a quick "zh" or "ch".
Did you know?
- In French aimer alone can mean both "to like" and "to love", which is why je t'aime bien means "I like you" and je t'aime means "I love you".
Examples in context
- Je t'aime, mon amour.I love you, my love.
- Je t'aime tellement, maman.I love you so much, mom.
- Je t'adore, mon ami.I adore you, my friend.
Example conversation
Alex says goodbye to his girlfriend Camille at a train station in Montreal.
- AlexJe t'aime, Camille.I love you, Camille.
- CamilleMoi aussi, je t'aime.I love you too.
- AlexAppelle-moi en arrivant.Call me when you arrive.
