Ways to say it
| Italian | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| ti amo | /ti ˈa.mo/ | informal, singular |
| vi amo | formal, plural |
This phrase is used exclusively to affirm romantic feelings. You can intensify this feeling by saying ti amo da impazzire (I love you madly) or use the phrase ti adoro to say "I adore you".
Which one should you use?
ti amo is used when speaking to one person, whereas vi amo is the plural form used when addressing more than one person.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
ti amo is an informal singular form. vi amo is a formal plural form.
How does it change in a sentence?
In the standard word order for this phrase, the pronoun ti (you) is placed before the verb amo (I love).
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation is /ti ˈa.mo/. It has 3 syllables, with the stress on the 2nd syllable.
What mistakes should you avoid?
Do not use ti amo with friends or family members, as this is considered socially inappropriate or implies romantic intent. Instead, use ti voglio bene to express love for friends and family.
When do people say it?
Italian speakers distinguish strictly between romantic love and platonic or familial affection. While ti voglio bene is used for friends and family, you can use ti voglio tanto bene to convey an even stronger sense of affection than the standard version.
Did you know?
- The verb amo in ti amo actually shares a distant root with the Latin word hāmus, which means 'fishhook'.
- While ti amo is for romance, the phrase ti voglio bene literally translates to 'I want you well'.
- The romantic expression ti amo is often reserved for the peak of a relationship and may be said much less frequently than 'I love you' is in English.
Examples in context
- So che ti amo.I know that I love you.This sentence shows the use of ti amo within a clause.Tatoeba #8425678 by Guybrush88, translation #7521816 by CK
- Ti amo di più.I love you more.This sentence demonstrates how to say "I love you more" using ti amo.Tatoeba #13298320 by Guybrush88, translation #12675782 by anzart
- Io ti amo, Tom.I love you, Tom.This sentence shows how to address someone directly using ti amo.Tatoeba #4649429 by Guybrush88, translation #2765612 by CK
- Caro Marco, ti amo più di tutto il mondo.Dear Marco, I love you more than anything in the world.
- Ti voglio bene, carissima nonna.I love you very much, dearest grandma.
- Ciao Sara, ti voglio tanto bene!Hi Sara, I love you so much!
- Ti adoro, amico mio!I adore you, my friend!
- Ti amo da impazzire, amorino.I love you madly, my love.
- 136 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
A romantic dinner at a restaurant.
- SofiaSei speciale per me, ti amo.You are special to me, I love you.
- MatteoAnche io ti amo, Sofia.I love you too, Sofia.
- SofiaSei l'uomo della mia vita.You are the man of my life.
- MatteoE tu sei la mia vita.And you are my life.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “i love you” translations and entries ti amo, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries amo, ti, vi, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
