Ways to say it
| French | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| je t'aime | /ʒə t‿ɛm/ | informal, singular |
| je vous aime | /ʒə vu.z‿ɛm/ | formal, plural |
| je t'adore | informal, singular | |
| je vous adore | formal, plural |
These phrases are used to express an affirmation of romantic feeling. While je t'aime is the standard way to express romantic love, adding an adverb like beaucoup (je t'aime beaucoup) actually weakens the phrase to mean 'I like you very much' in many contexts.
Which one should you use?
The forms vary based on how many people you are addressing and the level of intimacy. je t'aime is used for a single person in an informal setting, while je vous aime is used when addressing more than one person or when addressing a single person in a formal context. To express a similar sentiment of deep affection within close-knit families, you may use je t'adore.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The informal singular forms are je t'aime and je t'adore. The formal or plural forms are je vous aime and je vous adore. For a colloquial or slang approach, younger generations and those in urban French communities often use je te kiffe.
How does it change in a sentence?
Use je vous aime instead of je t'aime when addressing more than one person or when addressing a single person in a formal context.
How do you pronounce it?
/ʒə t‿ɛm/
Did you know?
- The slang term kiffe in je te kiffe comes from the Arabic word for 'pleasure' or 'desire'.
- In French culture, the phrase je t'aime is traditionally reserved for very serious relationships and is said far less frequently than 'I love you' is in English.
- The word adore in je t'adore can be used more casually than aime, making it a safe way to express strong affection without necessarily committing to a romantic 'love'.
Examples in context
- PS : Je t'aime.PS: I love you.This example shows how to include the phrase in a postscript.Tatoeba #848270 by sacredceltic, translation #1357022 by sacredceltic
- Mais je t'aime !But I love you!This example shows how to add emphasis to the phrase.Tatoeba #10087314 by Rovo, translation #10087190 by ddnktr
- Papa, je t'aime !Daddy, I love you!This example shows how a child might express affection to a parent using je t'aime.Tatoeba #5230593 by michelnialon, translation #2075226 by Vened
- Vous savez combien je vous aime, n'est-ce pas?You know how much I love you, don't you?
- Je t'aime, maman. Tu es la meilleure.I love you, Mom. You're the best.
- Je t'adore, mon frère. Je ne sais pas ce que je ferais sans toi.I adore you, my brother. I don't know what I would do without you.
- 171 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
A couple is having a quiet moment in a park.
- ChloéJe t'aime, Nathan.I love you, Nathan.
- NathanMoi aussi, je t'aime, Chloé.Me too, I love you, Chloé.
- ChloéC'est tellement beau.It is so beautiful.
- NathanTu es ma vie.You are my life.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “I love you” translations and entries je t'aime, je vous aime, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
