te amo, mi niña
/te ˈamo mi ˈniɲa/word by word
The English phrase "I love you, my girl" is expressed in Spanish as te amo, mi niña.
te amo, mi niña is an affectionate expression of love spoken to a female partner or a young girl. The term niña can be used literally for a child, or affectionately as a term of endearment for a romantic partner, similar to 'baby' or 'sweetheart'. Other common terms of endearment include mi amor (my love), cariño (darling) and tesoro (treasure).
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of te (you), amo (I love), mi (my) and niña (girl/child).
How does it change in a sentence?
In the phrase te amo, mi niña, the verb amo is the first-person singular present indicative of amar. Because of this verb ending, the subject "I" is implied.
How do you pronounce it?
/te ˈamo mi ˈniɲa/
Did you know?
- In some Spanish-speaking cultures, calling a romantic partner mi niña is common even when the woman is much older than the speaker. It functions as a protective and tender term rather than a comment on age.
- The word niña shares a root with the English word 'nanny'. Both derive from terms used to describe children or those who care for them.
- While English speakers use the verb 'love' for almost everything, Spanish speakers treat 'amar' and 'querer' as two different levels of affection. Using te amo too early in a romance can make the relationship feel much more intense and heavy than intended.
Examples in context
- Siempre te amaré, te amo, mi niña.I will always love you, I love you, my girl.
- Duerme bien, te amo, mi niña.Sleep well, I love you, my girl.
Example conversation
Alejandro and Elena are sitting together in a park at sunset.
- AlejandroEres la mujer más especial del mundo.You are the most special woman in the world.
- Elena¿De verdad lo sientes así?Do you really feel that way?
- AlejandroSí, te amo, mi niña.Yes, I love you, my girl.
- ElenaY yo te amo a ti, Alejandro.And I love you too, Alejandro.
