Ways to say it
| Catalan | IPA |
|---|---|
| t'estimo | [t‿əsˈti.mu] (Central, Northern, narrow) [t‿əsˈti.mo] (Balearic, narrow) |
| t'estime | [t‿esˈti.me] (Valencia, narrow) |
| t'estim | [t‿əsˈtim] (Balearic, narrow) |
The phrase is used as an affirmation of romantic feeling. While primarily used to express romantic love, the verb can also be used to express deep affection towards friends or family. You can say T'estimo molt to mean "I love you very much" or T'estimo amb tot el meu cor to mean "I love you with all my heart".
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase t'estimo is a contraction of t' (a form of te meaning "you") and estimo (meaning "I love").
Which one should you use?
The forms t'estimo, t'estime and t'estim all translate to "I love you".
Is it said differently in some regions?
T'estimo is widely used in Catalonia and the Balearic Islands. In Valencia, it is common to hear T'estim instead of T'estimo.
How does it change in a sentence?
The form t'estimo is the first-person singular present indicative of the verb estimar.
Did you know?
- The word estimar is also used in Catalan to describe the act of taking care of something, such as a garden or a vintage car.
- In Catalan, using the verb estimar to express romantic love is actually an evolution of the word's original meaning, which was 'to honor' or 'to esteem'.
- In Catalan, the verb estimar is used for both romantic love and affection for family, whereas Spanish often splits these between amar and querer.
Examples in context
- T'estimo.I love you.This example shows the basic phrase t'estimo.Tatoeba #875478 by ziggsmith, translation #1434 by awael58
- Avui t'estimo més que ahir, però menys que demà.Today I love you more than yesterday, but less than tomorrow.This example uses t'estimo in a comparison regarding the intensity of love over time.Tatoeba #1911744 by verver, translation #8742423 by RobOwenKing
Example conversation
Pol and Montserrat are having a quiet dinner at home.
- PolMontserrat, t'estimo molt.Montserrat, I love you a lot.
- MontserratI tant que t'estimo, Pol.I love you too, Pol.
- PolEts la millor persona del món.You are the best person in the world.
- MontserratGràcies, estimat meu.Thank you, my dear.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “I love you” translations and entries t'estimo, t'estime, t'estim, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
