Ways to say it
| French | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| je t'aime | /ʒə t‿ɛm/ | informal, singular |
| je vous aime | /ʒə vu.z‿ɛm/ | formal, plural |
| je t'adore | informal, singular | |
| je vous adore | formal, plural |
The phrase is used to express an affirmation of romantic feeling. je t'aime is the standard way to express romantic love to a partner.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase je t'aime is composed of je (I), t' (you, as a direct object pronoun) and aime (love).
Which one should you use?
While je t'aime implies a deep commitment, je t'adore can also be used romantically, though it is often perceived as being slightly more about passion or infatuation and can be slightly less intense. Additionally, adding the adverb bien to the phrase results in je t'aime bien, which actually weakens the meaning to 'I like you' rather than strengthening it.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The forms are categorized by how you address the recipient. je t'aime and je t'adore are informal and singular. je vous aime and je vous adore are formal and plural.
How does it change in a sentence?
You should use je vous aime when you are addressing more than one person or when you are using the formal vous with a single person.
How do you pronounce it?
/ʒə t‿ɛm/
Did you know?
- In French, je t'aime can be responded to with moi aussi (me too) but responding with moi non plus (me neither) is a common trope in romantic comedies to show a playful or stubborn denial of feelings.
- The word adore in je t'adore comes from the Latin word for 'to pray to' or 'venerate', reflecting a sense of worship that persists in the passionate tone of the phrase.
- While je t'aime is the go-to for romantic partners, French speakers often use the same phrase to express love for children, parents and close friends without it being romantic.
Examples in context
- PS : Je t'aime.PS: I love you.This sentence shows how to use je t'aime in a postscript.Tatoeba #848270 by sacredceltic, translation #1357022 by sacredceltic
- Mais je t'aime !But I love you!This sentence demonstrates the use of je t'aime with an exclamation.Tatoeba #10087314 by Rovo, translation #10087190 by ddnktr
- Papa, je t'aime !Daddy, I love you!This sentence shows how a child might use je t'aime when addressing their father.Tatoeba #5230593 by michelnialon, translation #2075226 by Vened
- Je vous aime de manière platonique.I love you platonically
- Je t'aime bien, mais de manière platonique.I really like you, but platonically
- 171 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Hugo and Emma are saying goodbye before work.
- HugoJe t'aime, Emma.I love you, Emma.
- EmmaMoi aussi, je t'aime.I love you too.
- HugoPasse une bonne journée.Have a good day.
- EmmaMerci, toi aussi !Thanks, you too!
Sources
- Wiktionary, “I love you” translations and entries je t'aime, je vous aime, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
