Ways to say it
| Indonesian | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| aku cinta kamu | /ˈaku ˈt͡ʃinta ˈkamu/ (Standard Indonesian, word by word) | |
| aku sayang kamu | /ˈaku ˈsajaŋ ˈkamu/ (Standard Indonesian, word by word) | |
| aku suka sama kamu | /ˈaku ˈsuka ˈsama ˈkamu/ (Standard Indonesian, word by word) | |
| saya cinta kamu | /ˈsaja ˈt͡ʃinta ˈkamu/ (Standard Indonesian, word by word) | formal, polite |
| aku mencintaimu | ||
| aku cinta padamu | poetic | |
| aku cinta kepadamu | poetic | |
| gua suka sama lu | Jakarta, slang |
These phrases are used to affirm romantic feelings or express affection. The intensity and nature of the affection can change depending on whether you use cinta (love), sayang (affection/care) or suka (like).
Which one should you use?
The choice of words changes the meaning and intensity: aku cinta kamu is a specific affirmation of romantic love. aku sayang kamu is a broader term of affection used for romantic partners, family members and close friends. aku suka sama kamu expresses a crush or liking someone, which is a lower level of intensity than cinta. For a more literary or song-like feeling, you can use aku cinta padamu or aku cinta kepadamu, where the addition of a preposition makes the expression sound more poetic.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
To be more formal and polite, you can use saya cinta kamu, though using saya is less common in intimate romantic settings. For highly formal or literary contexts, phrases like saya mencintaimu or saya menyayangimu are also used.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In the Jakarta dialect, you may hear the slang version gua suka sama lu.
How does it change in a sentence?
The word cinta becomes the transitive verb mencintai when it is used as a formal transitive verb in a sentence, such as in aku mencintaimu.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈaku ˈtʃinta ˈkamu/
Did you know?
- The word cinta for 'love' comes from the Sanskrit word cintā, which originally meant 'thinking', 'anxiety' or 'consideration'.
- In many contexts, the word sayang can be used to mean 'what a pity' or 'it is a shame'.
- While aku is used for 'I' in romantic settings, it can be seen as quite blunt or informal compared to other Indonesian pronouns.
Examples in context
- Aku hanya ingin bilang aku cinta padamuI just wanted to tell you I love you.This sentence is useful for expressing a desire to share your feelings using the poetic form aku cinta padamu.Tatoeba #3878473 by Bilmanda, translation #3202440 by CK
- Aku hanya ingin berkata bahwa aku cinta padamu.I just wanted to say that I love you.This sentence is useful for expressing a desire to say your feelings using the poetic form aku cinta padamu.Tatoeba #3878480 by Bilmanda, translation #2240475 by Hybrid
- aku mencintaimuI love you.This sentence provides an example of using the transitive verb form aku mencintaimu.Tatoeba #4230729 by ver50n, translation #1434 by awael58
- 8 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
A romantic dinner at a quiet restaurant.
- SariDimas, aku cinta kamu.Dimas, I love you.
- DimasAku juga cinta kamu, Sari.I love you too, Sari.
- SariTerima kasih sudah selalu ada untukku.Thank you for always being there for me.
- DimasSama-sama, sayang.You're welcome, darling.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “I love you” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- IPA marked “word by word” joins the Wiktionary pronunciations of each word (aku, cinta, kamu, sayang, suka, sama, saya) and can differ in connected speech.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries aku, cinta, kamu, sama, sayang, suka, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
