te quiero
/te ˈkjeɾo/
In Spanish, "I love you" can be translated as te quiero or te amo.
Meaning: affirmation of romantic feeling (phrase)
Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA |
|---|---|
| te quiero | /te ˈkjeɾo/ |
| te amo | /te ˈamo/ |
These phrases are used to affirm romantic or affectionate feelings. You may also use endearing terms such as querida (dear) or cariño (darling) when expressing affection.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase te quiero literally means "I want you", though it is the standard way to say "I love you" in many contexts.
Which one should you use?
te quiero is used for more casual affection, such as between friends, family members or in the early stages of a relationship. In contrast, te amo is used for deep, intense or romantic love.
How does it change in a sentence?
To say "I love you" to a group of people, you must change the pronoun to los or las (for example, los amo).
How do you pronounce it?
/te ˈkjeɾo/
Did you know?
- Spanish has a specific term querencia derived from the same root as te quiero, referring to the place where one feels safe and at home, linking the idea of love to a physical space.
- The phrase te amo is frequently used in dubbed versions of English movies to translate 'I love you', which has popularized its use in daily speech more than it was traditionally used in some regions.
- In some Spanish speaking cultures, saying te amo can be seen as overwhelmingly intense or too formal for daily use, making te quiero the primary way to express love even in long term marriages.
Examples in context
- Sé que te amo.I know I love you.This sentence shows how to use te amo to express knowledge of one's own feelings.Tatoeba #2412405 by marcelostockle, translation #2375989 by CK
- Te amo, tesoro mío.I love you, sweetheart.This sentence demonstrates using te amo alongside an endearing term.Tatoeba #1277931 by marcelostockle, translation #139171 by fengrim
- Te amo tal como sos.I love you just as you are.This sentence shows te amo used to express unconditional acceptance.Tatoeba #998944 by hayastan, translation #386518 by Dorenda
- Le amo, madre.I love you, mother.
- Estimada madre, le quiero mucho.Dear mother, I love you very much.
- Madre, su amor es invaluable para mí.Mother, your love is priceless to me.
- Te quiero, mamá.I love you, mom.
- Mamá, te quiero mucho.Mom, I love you very much.
- Mamá, tu amor es invaluable para mí.Mom, your love is priceless to me.
- 132 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Sofía and Daniel are sitting in a park during sunset.
- SofíaTe quiero mucho, Daniel.I love you very much, Daniel.
- DanielY yo te quiero a ti, Sofía.And I love you, Sofía.
- Sofía¿De verdad me lo dices?Do you really mean that?
- DanielSí, lo digo en serio.Yes, I am serious.
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.
