Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA |
|---|---|
| te quiero | /te ˈkjeɾo/ |
| te amo | /te ˈamo/ |
These phrases are used as an affirmation of romantic feeling. You can also use affectionate nicknames such as mi amor (my love), mi vida (my life) or cariño (darling). Other ways to express affection include Estoy enamorado de ti (I am in love with you) and Eres el amor de mi vida (You are the love of my life).
What does it mean word for word?
The literal translation of te quiero is 'I want you', although it functions as 'I love you' in a romantic context.
Which one should you use?
te quiero is used for friends, family and the early stages of romantic relationships. In contrast, te amo is reserved for deep, serious romantic love.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Spain, you can say Te quiero un montón to mean 'I love you a lot'. In Argentina, the phrase Te quiero mucho, che translates to 'I love you a lot, buddy'.
How do you pronounce it?
/te ˈkjeɾo/
Did you know?
- The word querer in te quiero shares a root with the word querella, meaning 'lawsuit' or 'complaint', as both stem from the Latin idea of seeking or demanding something.
- The word amo is also a noun in Spanish that means 'master' or 'owner', creating a linguistic link between 'loving' and 'possessing'.
- Spanish speakers often use the phrase te quiero as a way to say 'goodbye' to close friends or family over the phone, functioning as a verbal hug.
Examples in context
- Sé que te amo.I know I love you.This sentence is useful for expressing the certainty of one's love using te amo.Tatoeba #2412405 by marcelostockle, translation #2375989 by CK
- Te amo, tesoro mío.I love you, sweetheart.This sentence is useful for adding an affectionate nickname like 'sweetheart' to te amo.Tatoeba #1277931 by marcelostockle, translation #139171 by fengrim
- Te amo tal como sos.I love you just as you are.This sentence is useful for expressing love for someone exactly as they are using te amo.Tatoeba #998944 by hayastan, translation #386518 by Dorenda
- 132 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
A romantic dinner at a restaurant.
- MaríaTe quiero mucho, Mateo.I love you very much, Mateo.
- MateoY yo a ti, María.And I love you, María.
- María¿De verdad me quieres?Do you really love me?
- MateoSí, te quiero con todo mi corazón.Yes, I love you with all my heart.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “I love you” translations and entries te quiero, te amo, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
