te quiero
/te ˈkjeɾo/
The English phrase "I want you" can be translated into Spanish as te quiero.
While te quiero can mean "I want you", in many contexts it is more commonly used to mean "I love you" (to friends or family) than "I want you" (desire). To express sexual desire or 'wanting' someone in a physical sense, te deseo is more precise than te quiero.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Argentina, a popular way to say "I want you" is Tengo ganas de vos. In Spain, Estar loco/a por ti means "To be crazy about you".
How does it change in a sentence?
In Spain, when addressing a group of people informally, te quiero becomes os quiero.
How do you pronounce it?
/te ˈkjeɾo/
When do people say it?
The term cariño means "darling".
Did you know?
- While te quiero is common, using te amo instead elevates the sentiment from 'I love you' to a much deeper, often more serious or poetic level of passion.
- In many Spanish-speaking cultures, saying te quiero is often accompanied by a light kiss on one cheek, even between friends or family members of the same gender.
- The word te comes from the Latin tē, which was the accusative form of tū, meaning 'you'.
Examples in context
- Te quiero en mi oficina.I want you in my office.This sentence is useful for expressing a desire to have someone in a specific location using te quiero.Tatoeba #1731018 by marcelostockle, translation #1730720 by CM
- Te quiero fuera de mi casa.I want you out of my house.This sentence is useful for expressing a desire to have someone outside a specific location using te quiero.Tatoeba #2620173 by teskmon, translation #2012692 by CK
- Te quiero donde te pueda ver.I want you where I can see you.This sentence is useful for expressing a desire to have someone in a place where they can be seen using te quiero.Tatoeba #2184719 by hayastan, translation #2014332 by CK
- 6 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Lucía and Javier are expressing their feelings for each other.
- LucíaJavier, te quiero mucho.Javier, I love you very much.
- JavierYo también te quiero, Lucía.I love you too, Lucía.
- Lucía¿Lo sabías desde hace tiempo?Did you know it for a long time?
- JavierSí, siempre te quiero a mi lado.Yes, I always want you by my side.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry te quiero, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries te, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
