ti voglio bene
/ti ˈvɔʎ.ʎo ˈbɛ.ne/
To say 'te quiero' in Italian, use ti voglio bene.
In Italian, there is a distinction between different types of love. Ti voglio bene is the most popular and widely-used way to express affection for friends or family members, showing that you care about them.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase ti voglio bene literally translates to 'I want well to you', which implies a wish for the person's well-being.
Which one should you use?
It is important to distinguish between platonic and romantic love. Use ti voglio bene for friends and family, but use Ti amo to express deep romantic love.
How do you pronounce it?
The phrase has 5 syllables, with the stress on the 2nd syllable. The IPA pronunciation is /ti ˈvɔʎ.ʎo ˈbɛ.ne/.
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers sometimes mistakenly use the Spanish phrase 'te quiero' when trying to speak Italian. To express affection for friends or family in Italian, use ti voglio bene instead.
Did you know?
- In Italian culture, using Ti amo for a family member is not just a mistake but can be perceived as inappropriately erotic due to its strong romantic connotations.
- The phrase can be shortened to tvb in text messages and social media, which is the Italian equivalent of 'ILY' or 'love you'.
- In Italian, you can use voglio bene to describe your love for a pet, as ti amo is generally considered too intense or grammatically inappropriate for animals.
Examples in context
- Maria, ti voglio bene!Maria, I love you!
- Ti voglio bene, non dimenticarlo mai.I care about you, never forget it.
- Sei una persona speciale e ti voglio bene.You are a special person and I care about you.
- Ti voglio bene, fratello mio.I care about you, my brother.
Example conversation
Martina is saying goodbye to Matteo at the train station.
- MartinaBuon viaggio, Matteo!Have a good trip, Matteo!
- MatteoGrazie, Martina. Mi mancherai.Thanks, Martina. I'll miss you.
- MartinaAnche io. Ti voglio bene!Me too. I love you!
- MatteoTi voglio bene anche io. A presto!I love you too. See you soon!
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry ti voglio bene, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
