Ways to say it
| Macedonian | Romanization (Wiktionary) | Note |
|---|---|---|
| те сакам | te sakam | |
| те љубам | te ljubam | uncommon |
The phrase is used to affirm romantic feelings toward another person.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase те сакам is composed of те, which means "you" (in the accusative case) and сакам, meaning "I love" or "I want".
Which one should you use?
те сакам is the standard and most common way to express romantic love. In contrast, те љубам is a less common form that feels more poetic or old-fashioned.
How does it change in a sentence?
In the phrase те сакам, the pronoun for "I" is omitted because the verb ending -ам indicates the first-person singular.
How do you pronounce it?
te sakam
When do people say it?
When expressing deep affection, some speakers use the endearing term Лапче, which means "little paw", as a nickname for someone loved dearly. You might also say Ти си моето срце, which means "You are my heart."
Did you know?
- The verb сакам is used for both 'I love' and 'I want'. Depending on the context, saying те сакам can technically be interpreted as 'I want you'.
- The word сакам is a cognate with the Bulgarian word for 'want' or 'love', showing the close linguistic link between the two neighboring South Slavic languages.
- While те сакам is used for romantic partners, Macedonians often use it for family members and close friends too, though the intensity varies by tone.
Examples in context
- За тоа те сакам.I love you for that.This sentence shows how to express the reason for your love using те сакам.Tatoeba #4362336 by Lepotdeterre, translation #3820182 by CK
- Знаеш дека те љубам.You know I love you.This sentence demonstrates the use of the poetic form те љубам.Tatoeba #4379932 by Lepotdeterre, translation #3330899 by CK
- Од сѐ срце те сакам.I love you with all my heart.This sentence illustrates an intense expression of love using те сакам.Tatoeba #4392572 by Lepotdeterre, translation #68788 by CK
- 23 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
A couple is having a quiet moment during a walk in the park.
- Милана MilanaИван, те сакам многу.Ivan, te sakam mnogu.Ivan, I love you very much.
- Иван IvanИ јас те сакам тебе, Милана.I jas te sakam tebe, Milana.And I love you too, Milana.
- Милана MilanaТи си мојата најголема среќа.Ti si mojata najgolema srekja.You are my greatest happiness.
- Иван IvanСекогаш ќе те сакам.Sekogash kje te sakam.I will always love you.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “I love you” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
