te amo, María
/te ˈamo maˈɾia/word by word
The English phrase "I love you, maria" is translated into Spanish as te amo, María.
This phrase is a deep expression of romantic love directed toward a person named Maria.
Which one should you use?
While te amo expresses deep, romantic love, the phrase te quiero is a more common way to express affection for friends or family members.
How does it change in a sentence?
In the phrase te amo, María, the pronoun te is the object pronoun for "you" (informal singular), which is why it precedes the verb amo.
How do you pronounce it?
/te ˈamo maˈɾia/
Did you know?
- In some Spanish-speaking slang, the word maría can be used as a shorthand for 'marijuana'.
- While te amo is used for romantic partners, it can sound overly dramatic or cinematic if used too early in a relationship in certain Spanish speaking cultures.
- The word amo is a verb in this phrase, but it is also a noun that means 'master' or 'owner'.
Example conversation
Alejandro is giving Maria a bouquet of flowers.
- ElenaTengo un regalo para ti, María.I have a gift for you, Maria.
- Alejandro¡Qué lindos! Gracias, Alejandro.How beautiful! Thank you, Alejandro.
- ElenaTe amo, María.I love you, Maria.
- AlejandroYo también te amo.I love you too.
