te amo
/te ˈamo/
In Spanish, "i love you" is expressed as te amo or te quiero.
Meaning: affirmation of romantic feeling (phrase)
Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA |
|---|---|
| te amo | /te ˈamo/ |
| te quiero | /te ˈkjeɾo/ |
These phrases are used to affirm romantic or deep affection. While both can translate to "i love you," their specific meanings depend on the intensity and nature of the relationship. te quiero can also mean "i like you" or "i care for you."
Which one should you use?
te amo is used for deep, intense or romantic love. In contrast, te quiero is used for friends, family or during the earlier stages of a romantic relationship, carrying a more affectionate but less intense meaning.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Mexico, te quiero un chingo is an informal and expressive way to say "i love you a lot."
How do you pronounce it?
/te ˈamo/
Did you know?
- The verb querer used in te quiero literally means 'to want', so you are grammatically saying 'I want you' to express affection.
- Spanish has a unique word querencia, derived from the same root as te quiero, which describes a place where one feels safe and at home.
- In Spain, the distinction between te quiero and te amo is often sharper than in Latin America, where te amo is used more frequently in daily life.
Examples in context
- Sé que te amo.I know I love you.This sentence is useful for expressing the knowledge of one's own feelings regarding te amo.Tatoeba #2412405 by marcelostockle, translation #2375989 by CK
- Te amo, tesoro mío.I love you, sweetheart.This sentence is useful for using a term of endearment with te amo.Tatoeba #1277931 by marcelostockle, translation #139171 by fengrim
- Te amo tal como sos.I love you just as you are.This sentence is useful for expressing acceptance of a person using te amo.Tatoeba #998944 by hayastan, translation #386518 by Dorenda
- 132 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
A couple is having a quiet dinner at home.
- ElenaTe amo, Daniel.I love you, Daniel.
- DanielY yo te amo a ti, Elena.And I love you, Elena.
- ElenaEres lo mejor de mi vida.You are the best part of my life.
- DanielSiempre estaré a tu lado.I will always be by your side.
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.
