Ways to say it
| Italian | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| ti amo | /ti ˈa.mo/ | informal, singular |
| vi amo | formal, plural |
This phrase is used specifically to express an affirmation of romantic feeling. It is reserved for a romantic partner and should not be used for friends or family members.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase uses the verb amare, which is the specific verb used for deep, romantic love.
Which one should you use?
The form ti amo is used when addressing one person, whereas vi amo is used when addressing more than one person, such as telling both parents "I love you".
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
ti amo is an informal, singular form, while vi amo is a formal, plural form.
How does it change in a sentence?
In the phrase ti amo, the pronoun ti is the unstressed singular informal object pronoun meaning "you".
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation is /ti ˈa.mo/. It has 3 syllables, with the stress on the 2nd syllable.
What mistakes should you avoid?
Do not use ti amo for friends or family. Instead, use ti voglio bene to say "I care about you" or to express platonic/familial love.
When do people say it?
When expressing romantic devotion, you might also use the phrase Sono pazzo/pazza di te to say "I am crazy about you".
Did you know?
- While ti amo is for romance, saying it to a parent or a child could actually cause offense or confusion, as it implies a sexual or romantic attraction.
- The phrase ti voglio bene, used for family and friends, literally translates to 'I want you well'.
- The word vi in the plural vi amo shares a linguistic ancestor with the Latin word ibi, meaning 'there'.
Examples in context
- So che ti amo.I know that I love you.This sentence shows how to use ti amo in a subordinate clause.Tatoeba #8425678 by Guybrush88, translation #7521816 by CK
- Ti amo di più.I love you more.This sentence shows how to use ti amo in a comparative context.Tatoeba #13298320 by Guybrush88, translation #12675782 by anzart
- Io ti amo, Tom.I love you, Tom.This sentence shows how to use ti amo when addressing someone by name.Tatoeba #4649429 by Guybrush88, translation #2765612 by CK
- 136 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Lorenzo and Giulia are having a romantic dinner.
- LorenzoSei bellissima stasera, Giulia.You are beautiful tonight, Giulia.
- GiuliaGrazie, Lorenzo. Anche tu sei molto elegante.Thank you, Lorenzo. You are also very elegant.
- LorenzoVolevo dirti che ti amo tantissimo.I wanted to tell you that I love you so much.
- GiuliaAnche io ti amo, caro.I love you too, dear.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “I love you” translations and entries ti amo, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries amo, ti, vi, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
