te quiero
/te ˈkjeɾo/
In Spanish, "i love you" is expressed as te quiero. Wiktionary also lists te amo.
Meaning: affirmation of romantic feeling (phrase)
Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA |
|---|---|
| te quiero | /te ˈkjeɾo/ |
| te amo | /te ˈamo/ |
Te quiero is a common way to express affection toward friends, family and romantic partners. In contrast, te amo is reserved for deep, intense or romantic love.
What does it mean word for word?
Literally, te quiero means "I want you," though in a romantic context, it functions as "I love you."
Which one should you use?
Te quiero is used for more casual or affectionate purposes, such as with friends, family or during the early stages of a relationship. Te amo is the more intense version used for deep romantic love.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Mexico, you might hear the phrase Te quiero un montón to mean "I love you a lot." In Spain, the phrase Te amo con toda mi alma means "I love you with all my soul."
How do you pronounce it?
/te ˈkjeɾo/
Did you know?
- Spanish has a specific word querencia, derived from the same root as te quiero, which describes the place where a person feels safest and most at home.
- The word amo, the first-person form of 'to love', is also the Spanish word for 'master' or 'owner'.
- In some Spanish-speaking cultures, saying te amo too early in a relationship is seen as an intense emotional commitment and can even be perceived as frightening or overwhelming.
Examples in context
- Sé que te amo.I know I love you.This sentence uses te amo.Tatoeba #2412405 by marcelostockle, translation #2375989 by CK
- Te amo, tesoro mío.I love you, sweetheart.Tatoeba #1277931 by marcelostockle, translation #139171 by fengrim
- Te amo tal como sos.I love you just as you are.Tatoeba #998944 by hayastan, translation #386518 by Dorenda
- Te amo, mi amor. Eres lo más importante en mi vida.I love you, my love. You're the most important person in my life.
- Le quiero mucho, señor García. Ha sido una inspiración para mí.I love you very much, Mr. García. You have been an inspiration to me.
- ¡Te quiero mucho, hermanita! Eres la mejor.I love you so much, little sister! You're the best.
- ¡Te adoro, mi vida! Eres la persona más especial en mi mundo.I adore you, my love! You're the most special person in my world
- ¡Te quiero un montón, amigo! Eres lo máximo.I love you a lot, my friend! You're the best.
- Te amo con toda mi alma, cariño. Eres mi razón de ser.I love you with all my soul, darling. You're my reason for being.
- 132 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
A couple is having a quiet dinner at home.
- DanielMaría, te quiero mucho.María, I love you very much.
- MaríaY yo te quiero a ti, Daniel.And I love you, Daniel.
- DanielEres la mujer de mi vida.You are the woman of my life.
- MaríaGracias, mi amor.Thank you, my love.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “i love you” translations and entries te quiero, te amo, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
