Ti voglio bene, sorella mia
The Italian phrase for "I love you, my sister" is Ti voglio bene, sorella mia.
This expression is used to convey affection to a female sibling.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase Ti voglio bene literally translates to "I want you well" or "I wish you well," which is the standard way to express platonic affection.
Which one should you use?
In Italian, you must use Ti voglio bene for siblings and friends, whereas Ti amo is reserved strictly for romantic or passionate love.
How does it change in a sentence?
While mia sorella is the standard way to say "my sister" in a sentence, placing the possessive adjective after the noun (sorella mia) adds a poetic or more affectionate emphasis.
Did you know?
- If you accidentally say Ti amo, sorella mia instead of Ti voglio bene, it will sound like you are declaring a romantic, erotic passion for your sister.
- The phrase Ti voglio bene is often shortened to the abbreviation TVB in texts and social media.
- The word sorella shares a common ancestor with the English word 'sister' and the German 'Schwester', tracing back to the Proto-Indo-European root *swésōr.
Examples in context
- Ti voglio bene, sorella mia, sempre.I love you, my sister, always.
Example conversation
Matteo is saying goodbye to Sofia at the airport.
- SofiaBuon viaggio, Matteo!Have a good trip, Matteo!
- MatteoGrazie, Sofia. Ti voglio bene, sorella mia.Thanks, Sofia. I love you, my sister.
- SofiaAnche io ti voglio bene!I love you too!
- MatteoCi sentiamo presto.We'll talk soon.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries bene, sorella, ti, CC BY-SA 4.0.
