אני אוהב אותך
ani ohev otkhaa man speaking to a man
To a man, a woman says אני אוהבת אותך (ani ohevet otkha) and a man says אני אוהב אותך (ani ohev otkha). The speaker's gender changes the verb.
Meaning: declaration of love (phrase)
Ways to say it
| Hebrew | Romanization | Note |
|---|---|---|
| אני אוהב אותך | ani ohev otkha | a man speaking to a man |
| אני אוהבת אותך | ani ohevet otkha | a woman speaking to a man |
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The phrase is used for partners, family and close friends. Between friends a lighter אני אוהב אותך is a warm closing on the phone.
How does it change in a sentence?
The ending of the last word is otkha when you speak to a man. When you speak to a woman it is otakh, so a man talking to his wife says something slightly different from a woman talking to her husband.
How do you pronounce it?
The kh in otkha is a throaty sound like the end of Scottish "loch", and the stress falls on the second part of otkha.
Did you know?
- Hebrew nouns and verbs carry gender, so the same English sentence can have four Hebrew versions depending on who speaks and who listens.
Examples in context
- אני אוהבת אותךani ohevet otkhaI love you (a woman to a man)
- אני אוהב אותך, אבאani ohev otkha, abaI love you, Dad
- אני אוהבת אותך מאודani ohevet otkha meodI love you very much (a woman to a man)
Example conversation
Tamar says goodbye to her husband Eli at the airport.
- Tamarתיסע בשלום, אלי. אני אוהבת אותך.tisa beshalom, Eli. ani ohevet otkha.Have a safe trip, Eli. I love you.
- Eliגם אני אוהב אותך, תמר.gam ani ohev otakh, Tamar.I love you too, Tamar.
- Tamarתתקשר כשתנחת.titkasher kshetinkhat.Call when you land.
