Ways to say it
| Latin American Spanish | Note |
|---|---|
| Te amo | romantic |
| Te quiero | |
| Te adoro | affectionate |
Te amo carries deep romantic love and is also said to children and parents in many families. Te quiero is lighter and fits a new relationship or close friends.
What does it mean word for word?
Te means "you" as the object, and amo means "I love". quiero comes from querer, which means both "to want" and "to love".
Which one should you use?
In Latin America Te amo is heard more often than in Spain, where Te quiero is the usual choice even between partners.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
These are personal words for people close to you. Use tú forms like these, not usted, with someone you love.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Argentina and Uruguay, where people use vos, the phrases stay the same: Te amo and Te quiero.
How does it change in a sentence?
To say "I love you so much", add mucho: Te quiero mucho or Te amo mucho.
How do you pronounce it?
Te amo sounds like "teh AH-moh", and Te quiero like "teh KYEH-roh".
What mistakes should you avoid?
Saying Te amo to a new friend can sound too intense. Te quiero or Te quiero mucho is the safer choice.
When do people say it?
Messages between couples often end with te amo or the short tqm, for te quiero mucho.
Did you know?
- Spanish querer means both "to want" and "to love", so te quiero can also mean "I want you", and context tells the difference.
- In text messages tqm stands for te quiero mucho and tkm is a playful spelling of the same thing.
Examples in context
- Te amo con todo mi corazón.I love you with all my heart.
- Te quiero mucho, mamá.I love you so much, Mom.
- Te adoro, mi amor.I adore you, my love.
Example conversation
Camila and Mateo say goodbye at the airport in Lima.
- CamilaTe voy a extrañar mucho.I am going to miss you a lot.
- MateoYo también. Te amo, Camila.Me too. I love you, Camila.
- CamilaTe amo. Escríbeme cuando llegues.I love you. Write to me when you arrive.
- MateoClaro que sí, mi amor.Of course, my love.
