te quiero
/te ˈkjeɾo/
In Spanish, 'i love you' can be expressed as te quiero or te amo.
Meaning: affirmation of romantic feeling (phrase)
Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA |
|---|---|
| te quiero | /te ˈkjeɾo/ |
| te amo | /te ˈamo/ |
The phrases are used to affirm romantic feelings or affection. While te amo is used for deep, intense or romantic love, using it with a casual acquaintance or a platonic friend can be perceived as much more intense or heavy than intended in English.
Which one should you use?
Te amo is used for deep, intense or romantic love, whereas te quiero is often used for more casual or developing affection. For comparison, te quiero is the standard way to express affection to friends, family members or in the earlier stages of a romantic relationship.
How does it change in a sentence?
In the phrase te amo, the object pronoun te refers to a single person being addressed as tú.
How do you pronounce it?
/te ˈkjeɾo/
Did you know?
- Spanish has a specific term querencia, derived from the same root as te quiero, which describes a place where a person feels safe and at home.
- Spanish speakers often use the phrase te quiero mucho to soften the intensity of the sentiment, making it a versatile tool for friends, siblings and partners alike.
- In song lyrics across the Spanish-speaking world, te amo is often used to signal a dramatic, almost fatalistic passion that goes beyond daily conversation.
Examples in context
- Sé que te amo.I know I love you.This sentence is useful for expressing certainty about loving someone using te amo.Tatoeba #2412405 by marcelostockle, translation #2375989 by CK
- Te amo, tesoro mío.I love you, sweetheart.This sentence is useful for a sweetheart using te amo.Tatoeba #1277931 by marcelostockle, translation #139171 by fengrim
- Te amo tal como sos.I love you just as you are.This sentence is useful for expressing love for someone exactly as they are using te amo.Tatoeba #998944 by hayastan, translation #386518 by Dorenda
- ¡Hola, mamá! Te quiero mucho.Hi, Mom! I love you very much
- ¡Hola, hija! Yo también te quiero. Eres el amor de mi vida.Hi, daughter! I love you too. You are the love of my life
- 132 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Daniel and Sofía are having a quiet dinner at home.
- DanielTe quiero mucho, Sofía.I love you very much, Sofía.
- SofíaY yo te quiero a ti, Daniel.And I love you, Daniel.
- Daniel¿De verdad?Really?
- SofíaSí, eres el hombre de mi vida.Yes, you are the man of my life.
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.
