What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of te (you, as an object), amo (I love) and más (more).
Which one should you use?
While te amo más is used for deep, romantic love, te quiero más is a common alternative used for friends, family or in less intense romantic stages.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
te amo más implies a high level of intimacy and is typically reserved for serious romantic partners or very close family members. Alternatively, te quiero más is an affectionate way to say "I love you more" used between couples, friends and family.
How do you pronounce it?
/te amo mas/
When do people say it?
In romantic contexts, you might use the poetic phrase Te amo más que ayer, pero menos que mañana to say "I love you more than yesterday, but less than tomorrow". You can also add terms of endearment like cariño, which means "darling".
Did you know?
- The word amo is a verb that is also a noun in Spanish, meaning 'master' or 'owner', which creates a subtle linguistic link between being a lover and having authority.
- The word más shares a common ancestor with the English word 'master', stemming from the Latin 'magister', which originally referred to someone of greater importance or ability.
- In some regions, using te amo too early in a relationship is considered a social faux pas or a sign of instability.
Examples in context
- Te amo más que cualquier cosa.I love you more than anything.This sentence is useful for expressing that your love is greater than anything else using te amo más.Tatoeba #1556798 by marcelostockle, translation #1556799 by CK
- Te amo más de lo que él te ama.I love you more than he loves you.This sentence is useful for comparing your love to the love of a third person using te amo más.Tatoeba #1130381 by cueyayotl, translation #1130012 by jdonnarumma
- Te amo más de lo que te ama Tom.I love you more than Tom does.This sentence is useful for comparing your love to the love of a specific person named Tom using te amo más.Tatoeba #9488852 by Shishir, translation #6348207 by CK
- Mi amor, te quiero másMy love, I love you more
- 9 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
A couple is sharing a sweet moment on the couch.
- ElenaTe amo tanto, Mateo.I love you so much, Mateo.
- MateoYo te amo más.I love you more.
- ElenaNo es posible, te amo más.It is not possible, I love you more.
- MateoEstá bien, te amo más a ti.Alright, I love you more.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries amo, más, te, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
