Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA |
|---|---|
| te quiero | /te ˈkjeɾo/ |
| te amo | /te ˈamo/ |
These phrases are used to affirm romantic or deep feelings of affection. Te amo translates directly to "I love you" and is commonly used between romantic partners or to express deep affection for close family members. Te quiero is used for affection toward friends, family or during the earlier stages of a romantic relationship. You can also use the phrase Te quiero un montón as a playful way to say "I love you a lot".
What does it mean word for word?
Literally, te quiero means "I want you", but in a social context, it is used to mean "I love you".
Which one should you use?
The choice between the two forms depends on the intensity of the emotion. Te amo is used for deep, intense or romantic love, while te quiero is used for more affectionate or casual expressions of love.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Spain, people often use the phrase te quiero more frequently than te amo.
How does it change in a sentence?
The form te amo uses the informal object pronoun te, which is used when speaking to someone you are on familiar terms with.
How do you pronounce it?
/te ˈkjeɾo/
Did you know?
- The word amo, which is the first-person form of 'to love', is also the Spanish word for 'master' or 'owner' when used as a noun.
- While te amo is the standard for 'I love you' in Latin America, some regions in Spain view it as overly dramatic or reserved exclusively for poetry and soap operas.
- In many Spanish-speaking cultures, the gesture of a kiss on one cheek often accompanies the phrase te quiero when greeting family members or friends.
Examples in context
- Sé que te amo.I know I love you.This sentence shows how to use the form te amo to express knowledge of one's feelings.Tatoeba #2412405 by marcelostockle, translation #2375989 by CK
- Te amo, tesoro mío.I love you, sweetheart.This sentence uses the form 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 uses the form te amo to express loving someone for who they are.Tatoeba #998944 by hayastan, translation #386518 by Dorenda
- Mi amor, te quiero un montón. Eres la persona más especial en mi vida.My love, I love you a lot. You are the most special person in my life.
- María, estoy enamorado/a de ti desde el primer día que te vi. Eres mi alegría y mi amor.Maria, I have been in love with you since the first day I saw you. You are my joy and my love.
- 132 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Lucía and Alejandro are having a romantic dinner.
- LucíaEres la mejor persona de mi vida.You are the best person in my life.
- AlejandroGracias, Lucía. Yo también te quiero.Thank you, Lucía. I love you too.
- LucíaTe quiero con todo mi corazón.I love you with all my heart.
- AlejandroY yo te quiero a ti, mi vida.And I love you, my life.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “I love you” translations and entries te quiero, te amo, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
