אֲנִי אוֹהֵב אוֹתָךְ
aní ohév otákh
In Hebrew, "I love you" is expressed through several forms of אֲנִי אוֹהֵב אוֹתָךְ (aní ohév otákh) depending on the gender of the speaker and the listener. Wiktionary also lists אֲנִי אוֹהֵבֵת אוֹתְךָ (aní ohévet otkhá) and אֲנִי אוֹהֵב אוֹתְךָ (aní ohév otkhá).
Meaning: affirmation of romantic feeling (phrase)
Ways to say it
| Hebrew | Romanization (Wiktionary) |
|---|---|
| אֲנִי אוֹהֵב אוֹתָךְ | aní ohév otákh |
| אֲנִי אוֹהֵבֵת אוֹתְךָ | aní ohévet otkhá |
| אֲנִי אוֹהֵב אוֹתְךָ | aní ohév otkhá |
| אֲנִי אוֹהֵבֵת אוֹתָךְ | aní ohévet otákh |
This phrase is an affirmation of romantic feeling.
Which one should you use?
The correct form depends on whether the person speaking is male or female, and whether the person being addressed is male or female. Use אֲנִי אוֹהֵב אוֹתָךְ for a male speaker addressing a female, אֲנִי אוֹהֵב אוֹתְךָ for a male speaker addressing a male, אֲנִי אוֹהֵבֵת אוֹתְךָ for a female speaker addressing a male and אֲנִי אוֹהֵבֵת אוֹתָךְ for a female speaker addressing a female.
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase changes based on the gender of the speaker and the person being addressed. Specifically, the word for "you" (אוֹתְךָ / אוֹתָךְ) must change to match the gender of the listener.
How do you pronounce it?
aní ohév otákh
Did you know?
- In modern Israeli culture, saying אֲנִי אוֹהֵב אוֹתְךָ is often considered a very heavy and serious commitment. Many couples use softer phrases or expressions of affection long before they use these specific words.
- In ancient Hebrew texts, 'love' is frequently intertwined with חֶסֶד, meaning 'kindness' or 'mercy'. This suggests that loving someone is an active choice to be kind rather than just a feeling.
- While אֲנִי אוֹהֵב is used for romantic love, speakers often use the word חָבֵר to mean both 'friend' and 'boyfriend'. This can create ambiguity in conversations about who is loved romantically and who is just a companion.
Examples in context
- אני אוהבת אותךI love you.
- אני אוהב אותך, שרה, בגלל החיוך המדהים שלךI love you, Sarah, because of your amazing smile.
- אֲנִי אוֹהֵב אוֹתָךְ מְאוֹד.ani ohev otakh me'od.I love you very much.
- אֲנִי רוֹצֶה לוֹמַר שֶׁאֲנִי אוֹהֵב אוֹתָךְ.ani rotze lomar she'ani ohev otakh.I want to say that I love you.
Example conversation
A couple is saying goodbye before work.
- עידו Idoאֲנִי אוֹהֵב אוֹתָךְ, נועה.ani ohev otakh, Noa.I love you, Noa.
- נועה Noaגם אני אוהבת אותך, עידו.gam ani ohevet otkha, Ido.I love you too, Ido.
- עידו Idoשיהיה לך יום נהדר.she-yihiye lakh yom nehedar.Have a wonderful day.
- נועה Noaתודה, נדבר מאוחר יותר.toda, nedaber me-u-khar yoter.Thanks, we'll talk later.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “I love you” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
