Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA |
|---|---|
| te quiero | /te ˈkjeɾo/ |
| te amo | /te ˈamo/ |
These phrases are used to affirm romantic feelings or strong affection. While te quiero is a standard way to say 'I love you', the phrase Te adoro can also be used to say 'I adore you', conveying deep and affectionate love.
What does it mean word for word?
Literally, te quiero means 'I want you', though it is the standard way to express affection in this context.
Which one should you use?
te quiero is used for a broader range of affection, including friends and family and is considered less intense than te amo. In contrast, te amo is reserved for deep, romantic love or very intense emotional bonds.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Mexico and some other Latin American countries, you might hear Te quiero un montón to mean 'I love you a lot'.
How does it change in a sentence?
The forms te quiero and te amo use the informal 'te' for 'you'. If you are speaking to someone formally, you should use lo amo for a man or la amo for a woman. When addressing a group of people, the phrase changes based on the region: in Spain, use os amo or os quiero, while in Latin America, use los amo or los quiero.
How do you pronounce it?
/te ˈkjeɾo/
When do people say it?
The phrase Te amo hasta la luna y de regreso is popular in Spain and certain Latin American countries and means 'I love you to the moon and back'.
Did you know?
- In some Spanish-speaking cultures, saying te amo for the first time in a relationship is a major milestone, often treated as a formal commitment more significant than the English 'I love you'.
- The word amo shares a root with the English word 'amorous', which relates to love and desire.
- Spanish speakers may use the phrase te quiero with pets or favorite objects, a usage that would feel strange if translated as te amo.
Examples in context
- Sé que te amo.I know I love you.This sentence is useful for expressing the knowledge of one's own feelings of love using te amo.Tatoeba #2412405 by marcelostockle, translation #2375989 by CK
- Te amo, tesoro mío.I love you, sweetheart.This sentence is a way to tell a sweetheart that you love them using te amo.Tatoeba #1277931 by marcelostockle, translation #139171 by fengrim
- Te amo tal como sos.I love you just as you are.This sentence expresses loving someone exactly as they are using te amo.Tatoeba #998944 by hayastan, translation #386518 by Dorenda
- CariñoDarling
- Eres la luz de mi vidaYou are the light of my life
- Sin ti, no puedo vivirI can't live without you
- Eres mi razón de serYou are my reason for being
- Te amo más de lo que las palabras pueden expresar y más de lo que el corazón puede contener. Eres mi todo.I love you more than words can express and more than the heart can hold. You are my everything.
- 132 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
A couple is spending a romantic evening at a park.
- LucíaTe quiero mucho, Javier.I love you very much, Javier.
- JavierY yo te quiero a ti, Lucía.And I love you, Lucía.
- LucíaEres el mejor novio.You are the best boyfriend.
- JavierGracias, mi amor.Thank you, my love.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “I love you” translations and entries te quiero, te amo, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries amo, te, te amo, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
