Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA |
|---|---|
| te amo | /te ˈamo/ |
| te quiero | /te ˈkjeɾo/ |
These phrases are used to express affection and romantic feelings. te quiero is the standard way to express affection toward friends, family and in the early stages of a romantic relationship. For example, you can say Te quiero mucho to mean "I love you a lot" when speaking informally to a friend. te amo is used for much more intense, profound and serious romantic expressions.
Which one should you use?
te quiero is used for friends, family and the beginning of romantic relationships. In contrast, te amo is reserved for serious romantic partners or much deeper, more intense expressions of love.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Argentina, an informal way to say "I love you a lot" to friends is Te quiero un montón.
How does it change in a sentence?
In the phrase te amo, te is the direct object pronoun meaning "you" and amo is the first-person singular present indicative of the verb amar. In the phrase te quiero, quiero is the first-person singular present indicative of the verb querer.
How do you pronounce it?
/te ˈamo/
Did you know?
- The verb querer in te quiero literally translates to 'I want you', which can sound much more aggressive or demanding in English than the affectionate Spanish usage.
- In some Latin American regions, using te amo with a casual friend might be perceived as an unintentional romantic advance rather than just a strong expression of platonic friendship.
- The verb amar is the root of the English word 'amorous', meaning related to love or sexual desire.
Examples in context
- Sé que te amo.I know I love you.This sentence uses te amo to express knowing one's love.Tatoeba #2412405 by marcelostockle, translation #2375989 by CK
- Te amo, tesoro mío.I love you, sweetheart.This sentence uses te amo to address a sweetheart.Tatoeba #1277931 by marcelostockle, translation #139171 by fengrim
- Te amo tal como sos.I love you just as you are.This sentence uses te amo to express loving someone exactly as they are.Tatoeba #998944 by hayastan, translation #386518 by Dorenda
- 132 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
A couple is sharing a quiet moment at sunset.
- MaríaMateo, te amo mucho.Mateo, I love you very much.
- MateoY yo te amo a ti, María.And I love you, María.
- MaríaEres el hombre de mi vida.You are the man of my life.
- MateoSiempre estaré a tu lado.I will always be by your side.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “I love you” translations and entries te amo, te quiero, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
