Ways to say it
| Portuguese | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| amo-te | /ˈɐ̃.mu.t͡ʃi/ (Brazil) /ˈɐ.mu.tɨ/ (Portugal) |
|
| (eu) te amo | /ˈew t͡ʃi ˈɐ̃.mu/ (Brazil, word by word) | |
| (eu) amo você | /ˈew ˈɐ̃.mu voˈse/ (Brazil, word by word) | Brazil |
This phrase is used as an affirmation of romantic feeling.
Which one should you use?
The form amo-te is the standard way to express this in European Portuguese. In Brazil, the form (eu) amo você is common and is often used when the speaker wants to emphasize the person being addressed. The form (eu) te amo is also used.
Is it said differently in some regions?
amo-te is the standard form in European Portuguese (Portugal). (eu) amo você is a common form in Brazil.
How does it change in a sentence?
The pronoun eu (I) is often omitted because the verb ending '-o' in amo already indicates that the subject is "I". In the phrase (eu) te amo, te is an unstressed object pronoun meaning "you". In the phrase (eu) amo você, você is the direct object pronoun meaning "you".
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation of amo-te is /ˈɐ̃.mu.tʃi/. It has 3 syllables and the stress is on the 1st syllable.
Did you know?
- The Brazilian form (eu) amo você is actually a contraction of a very formal historical expression meaning 'your mercy'.
- While amo-te is used for romantic love, Portuguese speakers often use gosto de ti to express affection for friends or family to avoid the intensity of amo.
- The Portuguese word amo shares a common root with the English word 'amorous'.
Examples in context
- Amo-te de todo o coração.I love you with all my heart.This sentence uses amo-te to show the depth of feeling with 'with all my heart'.Tatoeba #7101021 by iart61, translation #68788 by CK
- Amo-te mais que ontem e menos que amanhã.I love you more than yesterday and less than tomorrow.This sentence uses amo-te to express a comparative degree of love.Tatoeba #2614247 by alexmarcelo, translation #2963419 by marcelostockle
- Amo-te.I love you.This sentence shows a simple use of amo-te.Tatoeba #1382784 by tulio, translation #1434 by awael58
- Maria, minha amiga querida, eu te adoro e sou grata por ter você na minha vida. Você é demais!Maria, my dear friend, I adore you, and I am grateful to have you in my life. You are amazing!
- 4 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Camila and Lucas are saying goodbye before work.
- CamilaTemos de ir agora, Lucas.We have to go now, Lucas.
- LucasEu também. Amo-te muito, Camila.Me too. I love you very much, Camila.
- CamilaEu também amo-te!I love you too!
- LucasAté logo, meu amor.See you later, my love.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “I love you” translations and entries amo-te, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- IPA marked “word by word” joins the Wiktionary pronunciations of each word (eu, te, amo, você) and can differ in connected speech.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries amo, te, você, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
