Ways to say it
| French | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| je t'aime | /ʒə t‿ɛm/ | informal, singular |
| je vous aime | /ʒə vu.z‿ɛm/ | formal, plural |
| je t'adore | informal, singular | |
| je vous adore | formal, plural |
This phrase is an affirmation of romantic feeling.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase je t'aime is composed of je (I), te (you) and aime (love/like).
Which one should you use?
While je t'adore can be used romantically, it is often used more casually or enthusiastically to mean "I really like/adore you" compared to the deep romantic weight of je t'aime. Additionally, adding beaucoup to je t'aime to say je t'aime beaucoup actually weakens the romantic intensity, often making it sound more like "I like you very much" or a platonic affection.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
je t'aime and je t'adore are informal forms. For formal situations, you can use je vous aime or je vous adore. For a very formal way to express deep and profound affection, you can say Je ressens une profonde affection pour vous.
How does it change in a sentence?
The form je t'aime uses the singular object pronoun te (contracted to t'), which is used when speaking to one person you are close to. The form je vous aime uses the plural object pronoun vous, which is used when speaking to more than one person.
How do you pronounce it?
/ʒə t‿ɛm/
Did you know?
- French has a specific word, le coup de foudre, to describe the feeling of falling in love instantly, which literally translates to 'a bolt of lightning'.
- When French speakers want to express 'I am in love with you', they use the reflexive phrase je suis amoureux de toi, which is distinct from the simple action of loving someone.
- While je t'aime is the standard way to say 'I love you', French speakers often use the word amour as a term of endearment, calling a partner mon amour meaning 'my love'.
Examples in context
- PS : Je t'aime.PS: I love you.Tatoeba #848270 by sacredceltic, translation #1357022 by sacredceltic
- Mais je t'aime !But I love you!Tatoeba #10087314 by Rovo, translation #10087190 by ddnktr
- Papa, je t'aime !Daddy, I love you!Tatoeba #5230593 by michelnialon, translation #2075226 by Vened
- 171 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Chloé and Lucas are sitting on a park bench at sunset.
- ChloéJe t'aime, Lucas.I love you, Lucas.
- LucasMoi aussi, je t'aime, Chloé.I love you too, Chloé.
- ChloéTu es merveilleux.You are wonderful.
- LucasEt toi, tu es parfaite.And you, you are perfect.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “i love you” translations and entries je t'aime, je vous aime, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
