Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA |
|---|---|
| te amo | /te ˈamo/ |
| te quiero | /te ˈkjeɾo/ |
These phrases are used to affirm romantic or deep feelings. You can use te amo for the most direct and serious expression of love. Other variations include te quiero mucho to say 'I love you very much' among friends, family and romantic partners. te quiero con todo mi corazón to say 'I love you with all my heart'. te amo un montón to say 'I love you a lot'. And te adoro to say 'I adore you', which is an informal way to express love toward romantic partners, children or pets.
Which one should you use?
te amo is reserved for deep, intense or romantic love, such as with a long-term partner or spouse. In contrast, te quiero is used for affection toward friends, family members or during the earlier stages of a romantic relationship.
How does it change in a sentence?
The pronoun te (you) precedes the verb amo (I love) in this phrase.
How do you pronounce it?
/te ˈamo/
Did you know?
- The verb querer in te quiero literally means 'to want', which can lead to a humorous misunderstanding if a learner thinks they are saying 'I want you' instead of 'I love you'.
- The word amo comes from the same root as the English word 'amatory', relating to sexual or romantic desire.
- In some regions, saying te amo too early in a relationship is seen as an intense commitment or even a 'red flag' because of its heavy emotional weight.
Examples in context
- Sé que te amo.I know I love you.This sentence is useful for expressing the certainty of one's feelings with te amo.Tatoeba #2412405 by marcelostockle, translation #2375989 by CK
- Te amo, tesoro mío.I love you, sweetheart.This sentence shows how to use te amo with a term of endearment.Tatoeba #1277931 by marcelostockle, translation #139171 by fengrim
- Te amo tal como sos.I love you just as you are.This sentence demonstrates using te amo to express unconditional acceptance.Tatoeba #998944 by hayastan, translation #386518 by Dorenda
- 132 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
A quiet evening at home.
- MaríaTe amo, Daniel.I love you, Daniel.
- DanielY yo te amo a ti, María.And I love you, María.
- MaríaEres el amor de mi vida.You are the love of my life.
- DanielSiempre estaré contigo.I will always be with you.
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.
