Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA |
|---|---|
| te amo | /te ˈamo/ |
| te quiero | /te ˈkjeɾo/ |
These phrases are used to affirm romantic or affectionate feelings. You can express the intensity of your feelings by adding phrases such as Te quiero mucho (I love you a lot), Te quiero con todo mi corazón (I love you with all my heart), Te amo con todo mi corazón (I love you with all my heart) or Te amo más que a nada en este mundo (I love you more than anything in this world).
Which one should you use?
The choice between forms depends on the nature of your relationship. te amo is used for deep, intense or romantic love. In contrast, te quiero is used for friends, family or during the earlier stages of a romantic relationship.
How does it change in a sentence?
In these phrases, the pronoun te (you) is placed before the conjugated verb, such as amo (I love).
How do you pronounce it?
/te ˈamo/
What mistakes should you avoid?
Avoid using te amo with a casual acquaintance or a platonic friend, as this can be perceived as overly intense or inappropriate.
When do people say it?
The specific way you express affection depends on the bond you share. For instance, Te quiero mucho, mi hermano is used to say "I love you very much, my brother", while Te quiero como mi mejor amiga is used to say "I love you like my best friend".
Did you know?
- The word querer in te quiero is the same verb used to say 'I want' an object, such as 'I want a coffee'.
- The word 'amo' comes from the Latin 'amare', which is also the root for the English word 'amorous'.
- Depending on the region, using te amo with a parent can be seen as unusually intense or influenced by English translations in movies.
Examples in context
- Sé que te amo.I know I love you.This sentence demonstrates the use of the phrase te amo.Tatoeba #2412405 by marcelostockle, translation #2375989 by CK
- Te amo, tesoro mío.I love you, sweetheart.This sentence uses te amo alongside a term of endearment.Tatoeba #1277931 by marcelostockle, translation #139171 by fengrim
- Te amo tal como sos.I love you just as you are.This sentence shows how to use te amo to express unconditional love.Tatoeba #998944 by hayastan, translation #386518 by Dorenda
- 132 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Mateo and Elena are having a romantic dinner at home.
- MateoTe amo, Elena.I love you, Elena.
- ElenaY yo te amo a ti, Mateo.And I love you, Mateo.
- MateoEres lo más importante para mí.You are the most important thing to me.
- ElenaSiempre estaremos juntos.We will always be together.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “i love you” translations and entries te amo, te quiero, 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.
