te quiero
/te ˈkjeɾo/
In Spanish, 'I love you' can be expressed 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/ |
Both phrases are used to affirm romantic or affectionate feelings, but they differ in intensity and the type of relationship being expressed.
What does it mean word for word?
Literally, te quiero means 'I want you', though it is the standard way to say 'I love you' in many contexts. The verb in te amo is specifically the verb for 'to love' in a profound or romantic sense.
Which one should you use?
te amo is used for deep, intense or romantic love. In contrast, te quiero is used for friends, family or during the earlier stages of a romantic relationship where affection is more casual or developing.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In certain regions, the informal phrase Te amo un chorro is used to say 'I love you lots'.
How do you pronounce it?
/te ˈkjeɾo/
Did you know?
- The word chorro in the phrase te amo un chorro literally means 'a stream' or 'a jet of water'.
- The word amo shares its roots with the word 'amatory', which in English relates to sexual desire or love.
- Depending on the region, te quiero can be used as a polite way to end a phone call with a relative, acting more like 'take care' than a deep confession of love.
Examples in context
- Sé que te amo.I know I love you.This sentence uses te amo to show knowledge of one's feelings.Tatoeba #2412405 by marcelostockle, translation #2375989 by CK
- Te amo, tesoro mío.I love you, sweetheart.This sentence uses te amo to address a sweetheart.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 unconditional acceptance.Tatoeba #998944 by hayastan, translation #386518 by Dorenda
- Desde lo más profundo de mi corazón, te amo profundamenteFrom the depths of my heart, I love you deeply
- Mi amor, te quiero un montónMy love, I love you lots
- Cariño, te amo un chorroDarling, I love you lots
- 132 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
A quiet evening at home.
- LucíaEres una persona maravillosa.You are a wonderful person.
- AlejandroGracias, Lucía. Yo también te quiero.Thank you, Lucía. I love you too.
- LucíaTe quiero con todo mi corazón.I love you with all my heart.
- AlejandroY yo a ti, mi amor.And I love you, my love.
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.
