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 |
These phrases are used to affirm romantic feelings. While je t'aime is the most common and straightforward way to express this, je t'adore is used to express deep affection and adoration. Additionally, the phrase je suis amoureux/amoureuse de toi can be used to say 'I am in love with you'.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase je t'aime is a combination of je (I), te (you, the object form) and aime (love).
Which one should you use?
je t'aime is the standard way to express romantic love. In contrast, je t'adore is often used more casually or as a strong expression of affection that is less heavy or serious than the romantic commitment implied by je t'aime.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
je t'aime and je t'adore are informal forms used for singular individuals. je vous aime and je vous adore are formal forms used for plural groups or when addressing a single person in a professional context or to show respect to someone older.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Quebec, Canada, you may hear Je t'aime ben fort to say 'I love you' and speakers often say Je suis en amour avec toi to express being in love.
How does it change in a sentence?
Use je vous aime when addressing more than one person or when using the formal 'vous' to show respect to a single person.
How do you pronounce it?
/ʒə t‿ɛm/
Did you know?
- While 'I love you very much' sounds stronger in English, adding beaucoup to the phrase to say je t'aime beaucoup often shifts the meaning from romantic love to a platonic 'I like you a lot'.
- In France, saying je t'aime to a parent or sibling is uncommon because the phrase carries a strong romantic connotation.
- The formal vous used in je vous aime is related to the Italian word voi and the Russian word вы.
Examples in context
- PS : Je t'aime.PS: I love you.This is useful for a written postscript.Tatoeba #848270 by sacredceltic, translation #1357022 by sacredceltic
- Mais je t'aime !But I love you!This demonstrates an emphatic use of the phrase.Tatoeba #10087314 by Rovo, translation #10087190 by ddnktr
- Papa, je t'aime !Daddy, I love you!This shows a child addressing their father using je t'aime.Tatoeba #5230593 by michelnialon, translation #2075226 by Vened
- 171 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Gabriel and Manon are saying goodbye before work.
- GabrielJe t'aime, Manon.I love you, Manon.
- ManonMoi aussi, je t'aime.I love you too.
- GabrielPasse une bonne journée !Have a great day!
- ManonMerci, 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.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries je, vous, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
