te extraño
/te eɡstɾaɲo/from spelling rules
The English phrase "I miss you" can be translated into Spanish as te extraño or te echo de menos.
Meaning: I miss you (phrase)
Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA |
|---|---|
| te extraño | /te eɡstɾaɲo/ (from spelling rules) |
| te echo de menos | /te ˌet͡ʃo de ˈmenos/ |
Both forms are used to express the feeling of missing someone. In a more colloquial sense, you might also hear Me haces falta, which translates to "I need you" but is used to express that you miss someone.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase te echo de menos literally translates to "I throw you of less."
Which one should you use?
The choice between the two main forms often depends on geography. te extraño is the more common way to express this in Latin American Spanish, whereas te echo de menos is more common in Spain.
Is it said differently in some regions?
te extraño is predominantly used in Latin America, while te echo de menos is the preferred form in Spain.
How do you pronounce it?
/te eɡstɾaɲo/
Did you know?
- Unlike English, where 'miss' can also mean failing to hit a target, Spanish uses different verbs for these ideas. You cannot use extrañar or echar de menos to describe missing a bus or a target.
- The word extraño is a cognate of the English words 'strange' and 'extraneous'. It shares a common ancestor in the Latin word extrāneus, meaning 'from the outside'.
- In some Spanish-speaking cultures, the phrase me haces falta is considered more intimate than te extraño. It implies that the person is a necessary part of the speaker's life, like a missing piece of a puzzle.
Examples in context
- Te echo de menos.I miss you.This sentence shows the basic use of te echo de menos.Tatoeba #454574 by Shishir, translation #1308 by brauliobezerra
- Tom, te echo de menos.I miss you, Tom.This sentence shows how to use te echo de menos when addressing someone by name.Tatoeba #2011041 by Shishir, translation #1887572 by CK
- Te extraño cuando no estás acá.I miss you when you're not here.This sentence demonstrates the use of te extraño in a sentence describing a specific circumstance.Tatoeba #1646718 by hayastan, translation #1329779 by CK
- Querida abuela, extraño su presencia y echo de menos su compañía. Espero volver a verla pronto.Dear grandmother, I miss your presence, and I miss your company. I hope to see you soon.
- Hola amiga, te echo de menos y me haces falta. ¡Nos vemos pronto!Hi friend, I miss you, and I need you. See you soon!
- 14 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Daniel is calling María on the phone.
- DanielHola, María, te extraño mucho.Hello, María, I miss you a lot.
- MaríaYo también te extraño, Daniel.I miss you too, Daniel.
- Daniel¿Cuándo nos vamos a ver?When are we going to see each other?
- MaríaMuy pronto, te lo prometo.Very soon, I promise you.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “I miss you” translations and entries te echo de menos, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries de, echo, extraño, menos, te, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
