Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA |
|---|---|
| te amo | /te ˈamo/ |
| te quiero | /te ˈkjeɾo/ |
These phrases are used to affirm romantic feelings or deep affection. Te quiero is the most common way to express affection toward friends and family members. You can also say Te quiero mucho to mean 'I love you very much'.
Which one should you use?
Te quiero is less intense and more casual than te amo. Use te quiero for friends, family or in the early stages of a romantic relationship, whereas te amo is much more intense and serious.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In some Latin American countries, you may hear the phrase Te quiero un montón, which translates to 'I love you a whole lot'.
How does it change in a sentence?
In a standard declarative sentence, the object pronoun te (you) precedes the conjugated verb amo (I love).
How do you pronounce it?
/te ˈamo/
When do people say it?
When expressing deep affection, you might use phrases such as Eres mi tesoro (You are my treasure) or Eres mi vida (You are my life).
Did you know?
- The verb querer in te quiero literally means 'to want', so you are technically saying 'I want you' in a literal sense.
- While te amo is deeply romantic, the verb amar is also used in Spanish to describe a spiritual or unconditional love for God or humanity.
- The word amo shares a root with the English word 'amorous', both stemming from the Latin concept of affection.
Examples in context
- Sé que te amo.I know I love you.This sentence demonstrates the use of te amo.Tatoeba #2412405 by marcelostockle, translation #2375989 by CK
- Te amo, tesoro mío.I love you, sweetheart.This sentence shows how to use te amo 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 uses te amo to express loving someone exactly as they are.Tatoeba #998944 by hayastan, translation #386518 by Dorenda
- 132 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Alejandro and Elena are having a romantic dinner.
- AlejandroEres la mujer más increíble del mundo.You are the most incredible woman in the world.
- ElenaTú también eres especial para mí, Alejandro.You are also special to me, Alejandro.
- AlejandroTe amo con todo mi corazón.I love you with all my heart.
- ElenaYo también te amo.I love you too.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “I love you” translations and entries te amo, te quiero, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries amo, te, te amo, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
