Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA |
|---|---|
| te amo | /te ˈamo/ |
| te quiero | /te ˈkjeɾo/ |
The phrase is used to affirm romantic or deep emotional feelings. Te amo is the most common and direct translation for "I love you" and expresses a deep, profound love. Te quiero is used to express affection for friends, family and romantic partners in more casual settings. For even more intense affection, often between romantic partners, you can use Te adoro.
What does it mean word for word?
Te amo is composed of the direct object pronoun te (you) and the first-person singular present indicative of the verb amar (to love), which translates literally to "I love you".
Which one should you use?
Te amo is more intense and is reserved for deep romantic love or very close family members. In contrast, te quiero is less intense and more casual, making it suitable for friends, family or the early stages of a romantic relationship.
How does it change in a sentence?
In standard Spanish word order for this phrase, the pronoun te (you) is placed before the conjugated verb amo (I love).
How do you pronounce it?
/te ˈamo/
Did you know?
- The phrase te quiero literally translates to 'I want you', but in Spanish it functions as a standard way to say 'I love you' to friends or family.
- Spanish has the word querencia, derived from querer, which describes a place where one feels safe and at home, linking the feeling of love to a physical space.
- In some regions, te quiero can be used sarcastically to mean 'I can't stand you' depending on the tone and context.
Examples in context
- Sé que te amo.I know I love you.This sentence is useful for expressing the certainty of your love using 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
- Estimada abuela, te amo con todo mi corazón.Dear grandmother, I love you with all my heart.
- Mamá, ¡te quiero mucho! Eres la mejor.Mom, I love you so much! You're the best.
- Mi amorcito, ¡te adoro más que a nada en el mundo!My sweetheart, I adore you more than anything in the world!
- 132 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
A couple is sharing a quiet moment at a park.
- MaríaTe amo, Alejandro.I love you, Alejandro.
- AlejandroY yo te amo a ti, María.And I love you, María.
- María¿Siempre estaremos juntos?Will we always be together?
- AlejandroPor supuesto que sí.Of course we will.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “I love you” translations and entries te amo, te quiero, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
