Ways to say it
| Portuguese | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| amo-te | /ˈɐ̃.mu.t͡ʃi/ (Brazil) /ˈɐ.mu.tɨ/ (Portugal) |
|
| (eu) te amo | /ˈew t͡ʃi ˈɐ̃.mu/ (Brazil, word by word) | |
| (eu) amo você | /ˈew ˈɐ̃.mu voˈse/ (Brazil, word by word) | Brazil |
This phrase is used as an affirmation of romantic feeling.
Which one should you use?
The form (eu) amo você is a variant used in Brazil that often sounds slightly more direct or formal than (eu) te amo.
Is it said differently in some regions?
amo-te (or Eu amo-te) is commonly used in Portugal and is the standard form in European Portuguese. In Brazil, (eu) te amo is the most common way to say "I love you" in spoken language. The form (eu) amo você is also used in Brazil, particularly in regions such as Rio de Janeiro or São Paulo. In Brazil, the shorter Te amo is a more affectionate way of expressing this feeling.
How does it change in a sentence?
The pronoun eu (I) is often omitted in all forms because the verb conjugation amo already indicates the first person singular.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈɐ̃.mu.tʃi/
When do people say it?
When expressing affection, people may use endearing terms such as querido/a (dear), meu amor (my love) or fofo/a (sweet).
Did you know?
- The Brazilian word for 'you' in amo você comes from vosmecê, which was a contraction of vossa mercee meaning 'your mercy'.
- The word amo shares a common ancestor with the English word 'amatory', which relates to love and passion.
- Portuguese speakers may use adoro-te to express love, but in many contexts this translates closer to 'I adore you' or 'I really like you' rather than romantic love.
Examples in context
- Amo-te de todo o coração.I love you with all my heart.This sentence shows how to express loving someone with your whole heart using amo-te.Tatoeba #7101021 by iart61, translation #68788 by CK
- Amo-te mais que ontem e menos que amanhã.I love you more than yesterday and less than tomorrow.This sentence uses a poetic comparison to express love using amo-te.Tatoeba #2614247 by alexmarcelo, translation #2963419 by marcelostockle
- Amo-te.I love you.This is a simple way to say "I love you" using amo-te.Tatoeba #1382784 by tulio, translation #1434 by awael58
- Amo-te, meu amor. És a pessoa mais importante na minha vida.I love you, my love. You are the most important person in my life.
- Te amo muito, querido/a. Não sei o que seria de mim sem você.I love you so much, dear. I don't know what I would do without you.
- 4 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Juliana and Felipe are saying goodbye for the night.
- JulianaBoa noite, meu querido. Amo-te!Good night, my dear. I love you!
- FelipeEu também te amo, Juliana.I love you too, Juliana.
- JulianaDorme bem, Felipe.Sleep well, Felipe.
- FelipeTu também. Beijos.You too. Kisses.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “I love you” translations and entries amo-te, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- IPA marked “word by word” joins the Wiktionary pronunciations of each word (eu, te, amo, você) and can differ in connected speech.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries amo, te, você, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
