te amo
/te ˈamo/
In Spanish, "i love you" can be expressed as te amo or te quiero.
Meaning: affirmation of romantic feeling (phrase)
Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA |
|---|---|
| te amo | /te ˈamo/ |
| te quiero | /te ˈkjeɾo/ |
These phrases are used to affirm romantic feelings.
Which one should you use?
te quiero is used for a broader range of affection, including friends and family and is less intense than te amo.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Colombia, te quiero is a common informal expression and le amo is a variation used when addressing someone with respect.
How does it change in a sentence?
In the phrase te amo, the pronoun te (you) precedes the conjugated verb amo (I love).
How do you pronounce it?
/te ˈamo/
Did you know?
- The phrase te quiero literally translates to 'I want you', which can sound purely physical in English but remains a standard, gentle way to express affection for family in Spanish.
- The word amo is related to the Spanish word for 'master' or 'owner', reflecting an ancient linguistic link between the concepts of love and possession.
- While te amo is the standard for romantic love, some Spanish speakers use te quiero for romantic partners as a way to avoid the heavy emotional weight or commitment associated with te amo.
Examples in context
- Sé que te amo.I know I love you.This sentence shows how to use the phrase te amo to express certainty about one's feelings.Tatoeba #2412405 by marcelostockle, translation #2375989 by CK
- Te amo, tesoro mío.I love you, sweetheart.This sentence uses te amo alongside an endearing term of affection.Tatoeba #1277931 by marcelostockle, translation #139171 by fengrim
- Te amo tal como sos.I love you just as you are.This sentence demonstrates using te amo to express unconditional acceptance.Tatoeba #998944 by hayastan, translation #386518 by Dorenda
- María, te quiero un montón. Eres la mejor amiga que alguien pueda tener.María, I love you so much. You're the best friend anyone could have.
- 132 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
A romantic dinner at a quiet restaurant.
- DanielTe amo, María.I love you, María.
- MaríaY yo te amo a ti, Daniel.And I love you, Daniel.
- DanielEres lo más importante para mí.You are the most important thing to me.
- MaríaSiempre estaré a tu lado.I will always be by your side.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “i love you” translations and entries te amo, te quiero, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
