te extraño mucho
/te eɡstɾaɲo mut͡ʃo/from spelling rules
The English phrase "I really miss you" is translated into Spanish as te extraño mucho.
This phrase is used to tell someone that you feel sad because they are not with you. In the phrase te extraño mucho, the word mucho functions as an intensifier to express the "really" or "a lot" part of the sentiment.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase te extraño mucho literally translates to "I miss you a lot", where mucho serves as the intensifier.
Which one should you use?
While te extraño mucho is common in Latin America, in Spain the preferred way to express this is te echo de menos mucho or te echo mucho de menos.
Is it said differently in some regions?
te extraño mucho is common in Latin America, while in Spain speakers typically use the expression te echo de menos.
How does it change in a sentence?
To say "I miss him" or "I miss her", you replace the object pronoun te (you) with lo (him) or la (her). To express the past tense "I really missed you", you can use the imperfect form te extrañaba mucho.
How do you pronounce it?
/te eɡstɾaɲo mutʃo/
Did you know?
- In Spain, the phrase te echo de menos uses the verb echar, which usually means 'to throw'. It literally suggests 'throwing' someone into a state of deficiency.
- The Spanish word extraño is also the word for 'strange' or 'weird'.
- The word extraño in te extraño mucho shares a common ancestor with the English word 'extraneous'.
Examples in context
- ¡Hola María! Te extraño mucho desde que te fuiste de vacaciones. ¡Espero verte pronto!Hi Maria! I really miss you since you left for vacation. Hope to see you soon!
- Te extraño mucho, mi amor.I really miss you, my love.
- No puedo dormir porque te extraño mucho.I cannot sleep because I really miss you.
- Tengo que decirte que te extraño mucho.I have to tell you that I really miss you.
Example conversation
Alejandro and Sofía are talking on the phone after being apart for a month.
- AlejandroHola, Sofía, te extraño mucho.Hello, Sofía, I really miss you.
- SofíaYo también te extraño mucho, Alejandro.I really miss you too, Alejandro.
- Alejandro¿Cuándo vas a volver a casa?When are you coming back home?
- SofíaVolveré la próxima semana, te lo prometo.I will return next week, I promise you.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries extraño, mucho, te, CC BY-SA 4.0.
