אֲנִי אוֹהֵב אוֹתָךְ
aní ohév otákh
The English phrase "I love you" is translated into Hebrew using several forms depending on the genders of the speaker and the listener. אֲנִי אוֹהֵב אוֹתָךְ (aní ohév otákh). Wiktionary also lists אֲנִי אוֹהֵבֵת אוֹתְךָ (aní ohévet otkhá) and אֲנִי אוֹהֵב אוֹתְךָ (aní ohév otkhá).
Meaning: affirmation of romantic feeling (phrase)
Ways to say it
| Hebrew | Romanization (Wiktionary) |
|---|---|
| אֲנִי אוֹהֵב אוֹתָךְ | aní ohév otákh |
| אֲנִי אוֹהֵבֵת אוֹתְךָ | aní ohévet otkhá |
| אֲנִי אוֹהֵב אוֹתְךָ | aní ohév otkhá |
| אֲנִי אוֹהֵבֵת אוֹתָךְ | aní ohévet otákh |
This phrase is an affirmation of romantic feeling.
What does it mean word for word?
The terms אוֹתָךְ or אוֹתְךָ mean "you (as an object)". This specific form is required in Hebrew because "love" is a transitive verb.
Which one should you use?
The verb "to love" changes based on the gender of the person speaking: use אוֹהֵב if the speaker is male and אוֹהֶבֶת if the speaker is female.
How does it change in a sentence?
The correct form depends on both the speaker's gender and the listener's gender. A male speaker addressing a female listener says אֲנִי אוֹהֵב אוֹתָךְ.
How do you pronounce it?
aní ohév otákh
Did you know?
- The word for 'love' as a noun, אַהֲבָה (ahava), is not just an abstract concept but is also a popular given name for girls in Israel.
- While אֲנִי אוֹהֵב אוֹתָךְ expresses a state of love, Hebrew uses a different construction involving 'falling' to say 'I am in love with you'.
- The root א-ה-ב used in אוֹהֵב (ohev) is one of the most ancient in the language and appears consistently throughout biblical texts to describe both human and divine love.
Examples in context
- אֲנִי אוֹהֵב אוֹתָךְ מִכל הַלֵּב.ani ohev otakh mikol halev.I love you with all my heart.
- תַּדְעִי שֶׁאֲנִי אוֹהֵב אוֹתָךְ.tade'i she'ani ohev otakh.Know that I love you.
Example conversation
A couple is saying goodbye before work.
- איתי Itayשָׁלוֹם עגור, אֲנִי אוֹהֵב אוֹתָךְ.Shalom Agur, ani ohev otakh.Bye Agur, I love you.
- עגור Adiגם אני אוהבת אותך, איתי.Gam ani ohevet otkha, Itai.I love you too, Itai.
- איתי Itayנִפְגָּשׁ בָּעֶרֶב.Nifgash ba-erev.See you in the evening.
- עגור Adiנִפְגָּשׁ בָּעֶרֶב, בַּי!Nifgash ba-erev, bye!See you in the evening, bye!
Sources
- Wiktionary, “I love you” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
