de verdad te quiero
/de beɾdad te kjeɾo/from spelling rules
The English phrase "I really love you" is translated into Spanish as de verdad te quiero.
This phrase is a sincere expression of deep affection or love for another person. The base phrase te quiero is used for a wide range of relationships, including friends, family members and romantic partners.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of de verdad, meaning truly or really and te quiero, meaning I love you.
Which one should you use?
While te quiero is a common way to express affection, te amo is often reserved for even deeper, more intense or more romantic love. For example, te amo de verdad can be used to express a very deep, informal love.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Mexico, the expression Te amo un chingo is prevalent in informal contexts. In Argentina, it is common to use the phrase Te quiero un montón informally.
How does it change in a sentence?
The adverbial phrase de verdad can be moved to the end of the sentence without changing the core meaning, such as in te quiero de verdad.
How do you pronounce it?
/de beɾdad te kjeɾo/
Did you know?
- While te quiero is used for friends and family, using it with a romantic partner can sometimes be seen as a cautious 'stepping stone' before moving to the more intense te amo.
- The word verdad is a distant relative of the English word 'verity', both of which descend from the Latin word vērus meaning 'true'.
- While English speakers use 'really' to emphasize feelings, Spanish speakers sometimes use de verdad to emphasize that they are not joking or being hyperbolic.
Examples in context
- María, te amo de verdad, eres una amiga muy especialMaria, I really love you, you're a very special friend
- De verdad te quiero, eres mi vida.I really love you, you are my life.
- No es un juego, de verdad te quiero.It is not a joke, I really love you.
- Escúchame, de verdad te quiero mucho.Listen to me, I really love you a lot.
Example conversation
A couple is having a serious and romantic moment at home.
- LucíaJavier, de verdad te quiero.Javier, I really love you.
- JavierY yo a ti, Lucía.And I love you too, Lucía.
- LucíaEres el hombre más increíble.You are the most incredible man.
- JavierGracias, amor, yo también te amo.Thank you, love, I love you too.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries de, te, verdad, CC BY-SA 4.0.
