Ways to say it
| Russian | Romanization (Wiktionary) | Note |
|---|---|---|
| я вас люблю́ | ja vas ljubljú | formal, plural |
| я люблю тебя я тебя́ люблю́ | ja ljublju tebja | informal, intimate |
This phrase is used as an affirmation of romantic feeling. You can express varying intensities, such as saying you love someone madly or very much.
What does it mean word for word?
The verb люблю́ is the first-person singular present tense form of the verb любить (to love).
Which one should you use?
The form я вас люблю́ uses the pronoun вас, making it suitable for addressing a group of people or for using a respectful tone with a single person. In contrast, я тебя люблю́ uses the singular and informal pronoun тебя, which is used for romantic partners, close friends or children.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
я вас люблю́ is a formal way to say "I love you" used when addressing someone with a formal or distant relationship. я тебя люблю́ is the most common informal way to say it.
How does it change in a sentence?
In the informal version, the word order is flexible. Placing the object тебя before the verb люблю́ in the phrase я тебя люблю́ is a very common and natural way to emphasize the person being loved.
How do you pronounce it?
ja vas ljubljú
Did you know?
- The Russian word for love, любовь, is also a very common female given name, meaning that a person can literally be named 'Love'.
- While я тебя люблю́ is the standard phrase, Russians often avoid saying it too early in a relationship, as the word любить carries a weight of seriousness and commitment far greater than the English 'love'.
- In Russian, the word любовь (love) shares a root with the word любопытный (curious), linking the feeling of love to the act of wanting to know more about someone.
Examples in context
- Знайте, что я вас люблю́.Znayte, chto ya vas lyublyu.Know that I love you.
Example conversation
A couple is speaking formally to each other in a romantic setting.
- Мария MariaАлександр, я вас люблю́.Aleksandr, ya vas lyublyu.Aleksandr, I love you.
- Александр AleksandrМария, я тоже вас люблю́.Mariya, ya tozhe vas lyublyu.Mariya, I love you too.
- Мария MariaВы мой самый дорогой человек.Vy moy samyy dorogoy chelovek.You are my dearest person.
- Александр AleksandrИ вы для меня тоже.I vy dlya menya tozhe.And you are for me too.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “I love you” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
