te amo
/te ˈamo/
In Spanish, "I love you" can be expressed as te amo or te quiero.
Meaning: affirmation of romantic feeling (phrase)
Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA |
|---|---|
| te amo | /te ˈamo/ |
| te quiero | /te ˈkjeɾo/ |
These phrases are used to affirm romantic feelings or affection toward others.
What does it mean word for word?
In the phrase te amo, te means "you" (as an object) and amo is the first-person singular conjugation of the verb amar, which means "to love".
Which one should you use?
The choice between forms depends on the intensity and nature of the relationship. te amo is used for deep, intense or romantic love. In contrast, te quiero is used for friends, family or more casual romantic affection.
How does it change in a sentence?
The verb can be conjugated to change the subject or tense. For example, to say "we love you", the verb becomes amamos to form te amamos. To express the future tense, such as "he/she/it will love you", you can use te amará.
How do you pronounce it?
/te ˈamo/
Did you know?
- Spanish has a specific word querencia derived from the same root as te quiero, describing a place where one feels safe and at home.
- In some Spanish-speaking cultures, te quiero can be used as a way to say 'I want you' in a sexual context depending on the tone and situation.
- Spanish speakers may use te quiero with pets or favorite objects, whereas te amo is almost exclusively reserved for human beings.
Examples in context
- Sé que te amo.I know I love you.This sentence demonstrates the use of te amo to express knowing one's love.Tatoeba #2412405 by marcelostockle, translation #2375989 by CK
- Te amo, tesoro mío.I love you, sweetheart.This sentence shows te amo being used with an endearment.Tatoeba #1277931 by marcelostockle, translation #139171 by fengrim
- Te amo tal como sos.I love you just as you are.This sentence uses te amo to express loving someone exactly as they are.Tatoeba #998944 by hayastan, translation #386518 by Dorenda
- Te quiero, hermano.I love you, brother.
- Te amo, mi vida.I love you, my love.
- Te adoro, cariño.I adore you, darling.
- Te quiero mucho, amiga.I love you very much, friend.
- Le quiero, señor.I love you, sir.
- Le amo, señora.I love you, ma'am.
- 132 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Lucía and Daniel are having a quiet dinner at home.
- LucíaEres el hombre de mi vida.You are the man of my life.
- DanielY tú eres mi todo.And you are my everything.
- LucíaTe amo, Daniel.I love you, Daniel.
- DanielYo también te amo, Lucía.I love you too, Lucía.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “I love you” translations and entries te amo, te quiero, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
