meu amor
/mew aˈmoʁ/word by word
The Portuguese phrase for "my love" is meu amor.
meu amor is a term of endearment used to address a romantic partner or someone the speaker loves. It is a very common, everyday term of endearment in Portuguese, unlike in English where the phrase can sometimes feel more poetic or formal.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is a literal translation of "my love", where meu means "my" and amor means "love".
Is it said differently in some regions?
In the Northeast region of Brazil, it is common to use the affectionate terms Meu Chuchu or Meu Xodó to refer to a loved one.
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase remains meu amor regardless of whom you are addressing. Even when addressing a woman, you do not change the gender because the noun amor is masculine.
How do you pronounce it?
/mew aˈmoʁ/
What mistakes should you avoid?
Do not say minha amor. Because the noun amor is masculine, you must use the masculine meu amor even when speaking to a woman.
Did you know?
- In Brazil, meu amor can be used by strangers, such as street vendors or shopkeepers, to be friendly to customers, even if there is no romantic connection.
- While meu amor is standard, someone in Northeastern Brazil might call you meu chuchu, which literally translates to 'my chayote' (a type of squash).
- The word amor shares a common ancestor with the English word 'amorous', as both stem from the Latin 'amorem'.
Examples in context
- Foi mal, meu amor.I'm sorry, my love.This sentence shows how to use meu amor in an apology.Tatoeba #10747850 by omniglotman, translation #2510771 by Hybrid
- Como é belo o meu amor!How nice my love is!This sentence demonstrates an exclamation of affection using meu amor.Tatoeba #11595462 by carlosalberto, translation #11595455 by carlosalberto
- Por que choras, meu amor?Why are you crying, my love?This sentence shows how to use meu amor in a question.Tatoeba #8800310 by carlosalberto, translation #7634511 by kaesekaiser
- Meu Amor, você sempre alegra o meu dia.My love, you always brighten my day.
- Meu Bem-Amado, a vida ao seu lado é um sonho realizado.My beloved, life with you is a dream come true.
- Meu Amor, você é tão especial na minha vida.My love, you are so special in my life.
- Você é meu Mozão. Te amo pra sempre!You are my love. I love you forever!
- Meu Chuchu, eu não consigo imaginar a vida sem você.My sweetheart, I can't imagine life without you.
- 30 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
A couple is saying goodbye before one goes to work.
- RodrigoBom dia, meu amor.Good morning, my love.
- JulianaBom dia, Rodrigo. Tenha um bom dia!Good morning, Rodrigo. Have a good day!
- RodrigoObrigado, Juliana. Eu te amo.Thank you, Juliana. I love you.
- JulianaEu também te amo muito.I love you very much too.
Sources
- IPA marked “word by word” joins the Wiktionary pronunciations of each word (meu, amor) and can differ in connected speech.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries amor, meu, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
