Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA |
|---|---|
| te amo | /te ˈamo/ |
| te quiero | /te ˈkjeɾo/ |
Both phrases are used to affirm romantic feelings or affection. While te amo expresses deep, intense love, te quiero is the standard way to express affection toward friends and family. In many contexts, te quiero can also mean "I want you" in a sense of desire.
What does it mean word for word?
In the phrase te amo, te is the direct object pronoun for "you" and amo is the first-person singular conjugation of the verb amar (to love).
Which one should you use?
The choice between the two forms depends on intensity. te amo is much more intense and is typically reserved for deep romantic love or very close family members. In contrast, te quiero is used for friends, family and the earlier stages of romantic relationships.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Spain, you might hear Te quiero muchísimo, mamá/papá to express profound love toward a parent. In Mexico, it is common to hear Te amo un chorro, mamá/papá to say "I love you a lot, mom/dad".
How does it change in a sentence?
To express "I loved you" as a completed action in the past (the preterite), change amo to amé.
How do you pronounce it?
/te ˈamo/
Did you know?
- The Mexican expression un chorro used in te amo un chorro literally means 'a stream' or 'a jet of water', acting as an idiom for 'a huge amount'.
- Because amar is so heavy and profound, using it too early in a relationship can be seen as an overwhelming or even frightening gesture in some cultures.
- While English speakers use 'love' for almost everything from pizza to partners, using the Spanish amo for non-romantic things like food or hobbies can sound strangely intense or even poetic.
Examples in context
- Sé que te amo.I know I love you.This sentence is useful for expressing the certainty of one's love using 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 demonstrates using te amo to express love for someone exactly as they are.Tatoeba #998944 by hayastan, translation #386518 by Dorenda
- 132 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
A romantic dinner at a restaurant.
- LucíaTe amo, Daniel.I love you, Daniel.
- DanielY yo te amo a ti, Lucía.And I love you, Lucía.
- LucíaEres el hombre de mi vida.You are the man of my life.
- DanielSiempre estaré contigo.I will always be with you.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “I love you” translations and entries te amo, te quiero, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
