Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA |
|---|---|
| te quiero | /te ˈkjeɾo/ |
| te amo | /te ˈamo/ |
These phrases are used to express affection and romantic feelings. You can say Te amo con todo mi corazón to mean 'I love you with all my heart'. For more casual or informal expressions of high affection, you might use Te quiero un montón (I love you a lot) or Te adoro (I adore you).
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase te quiero literally translates to 'I want you' in a non-sexual, affectionate sense.
Which one should you use?
The two forms are distinguished by the intensity of the emotion. te amo is reserved for deep, intense or romantic love. In contrast, te quiero is used for affection towards friends, family or during the earlier stages of a romantic relationship.
Is it said differently in some regions?
Regional variations exist across the Spanish-speaking world. In Mexico, you may hear Te quiero un chorro to mean 'I love you a lot'. In South American countries such as Argentina, Colombia and Peru, you might encounter Te amo un montón or Te amo muchísimo to mean 'I love you a lot' or 'I love you very much'.
How does it change in a sentence?
In both phrases, 'te' is the singular informal object pronoun for 'you'. If you are speaking to a group of people, you must change 'te' to 'los' (or 'las' if the group is all female) to say 'I love you', resulting in los amo or los quiero.
How do you pronounce it?
/te ˈkjeɾo/
Did you know?
- Spanish has a specific word, querencia, derived from the same root as te quiero. It describes the place where one feels safest and most loved, or the place where one naturally returns for comfort.
- In some Spanish-speaking cultures, if you use te amo with a new romantic partner too early, it might feel overwhelmingly intense or even intimidating.
- The verb amar is also used in Spanish to describe loving God or a sacred cause, elevating the phrase above mere human romance.
Examples in context
- Sé que te amo.I know I love you.This sentence demonstrates the use of the phrase 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 shows the use of te amo to express loving someone for who they are.Tatoeba #998944 by hayastan, translation #386518 by Dorenda
- ¡Hola, mi niño! Te quiero mucho y siempre estaré aquí para apoyarte en todo lo que necesites. Eres muy especial para mí.Hi, my child! I love you very much, and I'll always be here to support you in everything you need. You are very special to me.
- Hijo, quiero que sepas que te amo con todo mi corazón. Eres una bendición en mi vida y siempre te protegeré.Son, I want you to know that I love you with all my heart. You are a blessing in my life, and I will always protect you.
- Mi princesa, te adoro desde el fondo de mi corazón. Eres mi mayor alegría y siempre estaré aquí para ti.My princess, I adore you from the bottom of my heart. You are my greatest joy, and I will always be here for you.
- 132 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Elena and Javier are saying goodbye before work.
- ElenaAdiós, Javier. Te quiero mucho.Goodbye, Javier. I love you very much.
- JavierYo también te quiero, Elena.I love you too, Elena.
- ElenaQue tengas un buen día.Have a great day.
- JavierGracias, nos vemos luego.Thanks, see you later.
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.
