Ways to say it
| Italian | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| ti amo | /ti ˈa.mo/ | informal, singular |
| vi amo | formal, plural |
The phrase ti amo is used specifically for expressing profound emotions of romantic love. For an exuberant way to express deep romantic love, you can say ti amo da impazzire, which means "I love you like crazy".
Which one should you use?
ti amo is used for a single person in an informal context, while vi amo is used when addressing a group of people in a formal context.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
ti amo is an informal singular form, whereas vi amo is a formal plural form.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In the Sicilian dialect, the phrase ti vogghiu bene is used to express affection.
How does it change in a sentence?
In the phrase ti amo, the subject pronoun io (I) is typically omitted because the verb ending -o already indicates the first person singular. If you wish to express a continuous state of romantic love in the past, you can use the imperfect tense ti amavo, which means "I loved you".
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation is /ti ˈa.mo/. It has 3 syllables, with the stress on the 2nd of 3 syllables.
What mistakes should you avoid?
Use ti voglio bene for friends and family, and reserve ti amo exclusively for romantic love.
When do people say it?
While ti amo is reserved for intense romantic feelings, ti voglio bene can be used in an informal setting to convey affection and care without the intensity of romantic love.
Did you know?
- Using the phrase ti amo with a family member can actually be perceived as strangely erotic rather than affectionate.
- The word amo is derived from the Latin root for love, but it also shares an ancestral connection to the Latin hāmus, which refers to a hook. This is seen in related words like the French hameçon for a fishing hook.
- In some regional contexts, the phrase ti voglio bene can be shortened to tvb in text messages. This is the Italian equivalent of 'ily' and is used widely among friends and family.
Examples in context
- So che ti amo.I know that I love you.This sentence shows the use of ti amo to express a known fact.Tatoeba #8425678 by Guybrush88, translation #7521816 by CK
- Ti amo di più.I love you more.This sentence uses ti amo to express a comparison of intensity.Tatoeba #13298320 by Guybrush88, translation #12675782 by anzart
- Io ti amo, Tom.I love you, Tom.This sentence demonstrates the use of ti amo when addressing someone by name.Tatoeba #4649429 by Guybrush88, translation #2765612 by CK
- 136 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Alessandro and Chiara are saying goodbye for the evening.
- AlessandroBuona notte, Chiara. Ti amo.Good night, Chiara. I love you.
- ChiaraAnche io ti amo, Alessandro.I love you too, Alessandro.
- AlessandroA presto, cara.See you soon, dear.
- ChiaraA presto!See you soon!
Sources
- Wiktionary, “I love you” translations and entries ti amo, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries amo, ti, vi, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
