Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA |
|---|---|
| te quiero | /te ˈkjeɾo/ |
| te amo | /te ˈamo/ |
These phrases are used to affirm romantic or affectionate feelings toward another person.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase te quiero literally translates to 'I want you' because it comes from the verb *querer* (to want), but it is the standard way to express affection in many contexts.
Which one should you use?
te quiero is used for friends, family or during the earlier stages of a romantic relationship. In contrast, te amo is reserved for deep, intense or romantic love.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Spain, you would use os amo to say 'I love you' to a group of people, whereas in Latin America, los amo is more common.
How does it change in a sentence?
In both phrases, te is the direct object pronoun for 'you' in the informal, singular form.
How do you pronounce it?
/te ˈkjeɾo/
When do people say it?
When expressing affection, you might use terms of endearment such as cariño, which means 'darling'.
Did you know?
- Spanish has a specific word querencia derived from the same root as te quiero, referring to the place where one feels safe and at home.
- In some Latin American dialects, te quiero mucho is used as a polite way to deflect a romantic te amo by shifting the love into a more general category.
- The phrase te amo is frequently used in soap operas and dramatic literature to signify an eternal or fated love, making it sound more theatrical in real-life casual conversation.
Examples in context
- Sé que te amo.I know I love you.This sentence is useful for practicing the phrase te amo.Tatoeba #2412405 by marcelostockle, translation #2375989 by CK
- Te amo, tesoro mío.I love you, sweetheart.This sentence shows te amo used 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 the use of te amo.Tatoeba #998944 by hayastan, translation #386518 by Dorenda
- Te quiero, mi vida. Eres lo mejor que me ha pasado.I love you, my love. You are the best thing that has happened to me.
- Me encantas, cariño. Eres perfecto para mí.I adore you, darling. You are perfect for me.
- 132 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Alejandro and Elena are having a quiet dinner at home.
- AlejandroTe quiero mucho, Elena.I love you very much, Elena.
- ElenaYo también te quiero, Alejandro.I love you too, Alejandro.
- Alejandro¿De verdad me quieres?Do you really love me?
- ElenaSí, te quiero con todo mi corazón.Yes, I love you with all my heart.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “I love you” translations and entries te quiero, te amo, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
