What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of the direct object seni (you) and the first-person singular present tense verb seviyorum (I love).
Which one should you use?
While seni seviyorum is used for a single person you are close to, sizi seviyorum is used when addressing multiple people or when using the formal "you".
How does it change in a sentence?
The word seni is the accusative form of sen (you), indicating that "you" are the direct object of the love being felt. The verb seviyorum is in the present continuous tense, which is the standard way to express a current state of feeling like "I love you" in Turkish.
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation is /seni sevijoɾum/. The [s] sound is like the [s] in "send", the [n] is like the [n] in "not", the [i] is like the [ee] in "creek", the [v] is like the [v] in "vase", the [j] is like the [y] in "yes", the [ɾ] is like the [t] in American English "atom", the [u] is like the [oo] in "cool" and the [m] is like the [m] in "much".
When do people say it?
The most natural response to seni seviyorum is Ben de seni seviyorum, where de means "also" or "too".
Did you know?
- While seni seviyorum is a direct statement, lovers in Turkey often use the expression Sana ölüyorum, which literally means 'I am dying for you', to express intense passion.
- While English speakers say 'I love you', a Turkish person might say Canım (my soul/life) as a very common, affectionate term of endearment that replaces a formal declaration.
- In Turkish, the word sevmek (to love) is used for both 'to love' and 'to like'.
Examples in context
- En çok seni seviyorum.I love you the most.Tatoeba #2702597 by Gulo_Luscus, translation #2380242 by CK
- Ben de seni seviyorum.I love you, too.Tatoeba #3883093 by duran, translation #628763 by meloncurtains
- Tabii ki seni seviyorum.Of course I love you.Tatoeba #5821449 by deyta, translation #5819678 by Hybrid
- Seni çok seviyorum.I love you so much.
- Ben de seni çok seviyorum.I love you too.
- Sizi seviyorum.I love you.
- Deliler gibi aşığım sana.I am madly in love with you.
- 94 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Emre and Elif are having a romantic dinner.
- EmreSeni seviyorum, Elif.I love you, Elif.
- ElifBen de seni seviyorum, Emre.I love you too, Emre.
- EmreSen benim her şeyimsin.You are my everything.
- ElifBunu duymak çok güzel.It is so beautiful to hear this.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “I love you” translations and entries seni seviyorum, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Turkish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
