Ways to say it
| Czech | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| miluji tě | [mɪlujɪ cɛ] (narrow) | |
| miluju tě | colloquial | |
| miluji vás | formal | |
| miluju vás |
This phrase is used to express an affirmation of romantic feeling. In Czech, milovat is reserved for deep, romantic or profound love. This is distinct from the phrase mám tě rád, which is used to say you like or love friends and family in a less intense way.
What does it mean word for word?
The word miluji is the first-person singular present tense of the verb milovat, meaning 'I love'.
Which one should you use?
The distinction between miluji tě and miluju tě is purely stylistic. The latter replaces the formal -i ending with the more common, colloquial -u ending.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The form miluju tě is colloquial. miluji vás is a formal way to say 'I love you'.
How does it change in a sentence?
The form miluji tě uses the singular informal pronoun tě, which is used when speaking to one person you are close to, such as a romantic partner or a child. The form miluji vás uses the plural or formal pronoun vás, which is used when addressing more than one person or when addressing one person very formally.
Did you know?
- The root of miluji is shared with the Czech word for 'dear' or 'sweet', milý. This means the phrase is fundamentally built on the idea of someone being precious.
- While miluji tě is the direct translation of 'i love you', Czech speakers often express deep affection through the phrase miluji tě nad život, which means 'i love you more than life'.
- Unlike English, where 'i love you' can be a casual goodbye, miluji tě is almost never used as a closing remark in a casual phone call unless the moment is intentionally romantic.
Examples in context
- Miluji tě jako syna.I love you like a son.This sentence is useful for showing how to use the form miluji tě to express love for a person in a familial context.Tatoeba #11466393 by aldar, translation #2380237 by CK
- Miluju tě víc, než ty mě.I love you more than you love me.This sentence is useful for using the colloquial form miluju tě to compare levels of affection.Tatoeba #3470938 by nueby, translation #17829 by lazycat
- Miluji tě tak jako sám sebe.I love you like I love myself.This sentence is useful for using the form miluji tě to express a comparison of self-love.Tatoeba #4270743 by lipao, translation #4132696 by Theocracy
- 4 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Tereza and Tomáš are saying goodbye for the evening.
- TerezaDobrou noc, Tomáši.Good night, Tomáš.
- TomášDobrou noc, Terezo. Miluji tě.Good night, Tereza. I love you.
- TerezaJá tě také miluji.I love you too.
- TomášUvidíme se zítra.I will see you tomorrow.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “I love you” translations and entries miluji tě, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
