Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA |
|---|---|
| te amo | /te ˈamo/ |
| te quiero | /te ˈkjeɾo/ |
Both te amo and te quiero are used to express affection, but they differ in intensity and context. Te amo is an affirmation of deep romantic feeling or intense familial bonds. Te quiero is a way to express affection and care in a more casual or friendly way. You may also encounter te quiero mucho to convey deep fondness, or te adoro to express overwhelming love and adoration.
What does it mean word for word?
In te amo, the word amo comes from the verb amar, which means "to love". In te quiero, the word quiero comes from the verb querer, which can mean both "to love" and "to want".
Which one should you use?
The primary difference is the level of intimacy: te amo is typically reserved for deep romantic love or very intense family connections, while te quiero is more common for friends, family and the early stages of a romantic relationship.
How does it change in a sentence?
In these phrases, the pronoun te (you) is placed before the conjugated verb, such as amo or quiero.
How do you pronounce it?
/te ˈamo/
Did you know?
- In many Spanish-speaking cultures, using te amo too early in a dating relationship can be seen as an intense or even alarming commitment.
- Unlike English, where 'I love you' is used for everything from pizza to parents, Spanish speakers rarely use te amo for objects or food.
- The word te in these phrases descends from the Latin tē, which was the accusative form of tū.
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 feelings.Tatoeba #2412405 by marcelostockle, translation #2375989 by CK
- Te amo, tesoro mío.I love you, sweetheart.This sentence demonstrates a term of endearment used alongside te amo.Tatoeba #1277931 by marcelostockle, translation #139171 by fengrim
- Te amo tal como sos.I love you just as you are.This sentence uses te amo to express acceptance of a person.Tatoeba #998944 by hayastan, translation #386518 by Dorenda
- Te amo más que a nada en el mundoI love you more than anything in the world
- Te quiero con todo mi corazónI love you with all my heart
- Te quiero mucho, eres muy especial para míI love you a lot, you are very special to me
- Te adoro, eres lo mejor que me ha pasadoI adore you, you're the best thing that has happened to me
- 132 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
A romantic dinner at a restaurant.
- MaríaTe amo, Alejandro.I love you, Alejandro.
- AlejandroY yo te amo a ti, María.And I love you, María.
- MaríaEres el hombre de mi vida.You are the man of my life.
- AlejandroEres mi todo.You are my everything.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “i love you” translations and entries te amo, te quiero, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries amo, te, te amo, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
