amare
/aˈma.re/
The Italian phrase for "to love" is amare.
amare means to love. A related phrase, Provare affetto per, can be used to convey a sense of affection or fondness.
Which one should you use?
amare is often reserved for romantic partners or a deep, poetic love. In contrast, for non-romantic affection in daily social interactions, volere bene is much more common.
How does it change in a sentence?
The first-person singular present indicative of amare is amo (I love). The past participle is amato (loved).
How do you pronounce it?
The word has 3 syllables, and the stress is on the 2nd syllable. The IPA is /aˈma.re/.
Did you know?
- The English word 'amateur' shares its roots with amare, because an 'amateur' was originally someone who performs a task out of 'love' rather than for money.
- If you say Ti amo to a family member, it can sound unnervingly intense or even uncomfortable, as it implies a romantic or erotic passion.
- The noun 'amante' translates to 'lover', but in modern Italian, it often carries a more scandalous or illicit connotation than the English word 'lover'.
Examples in context
- Io volevo amare Tom.I wanted to love Tom.This sentence shows the use of amare regarding a specific person.Tatoeba #6701597 by Guybrush88, translation #2011582 by CK
- Cerco di amare tutti.I try to love everyone.This sentence shows an attempt to use amare for everyone.Tatoeba #7768804 by Guybrush88, translation #7768791 by sharris123
- Voglio qualcuno da amare.I want somebody to love.This sentence illustrates wanting someone to love using amare.Tatoeba #3106468 by Guybrush88, translation #2300126 by AlanF_US
- Amo il mio lavoroI love my job
- Amo la mia famigliaI love my family
- Provo affetto per i miei colleghiI have affection for my colleagues
- Provo affetto per la mia comunitàI have affection for my community
- Coltivo un sentimento di amore per la mia nazioneI cultivate a feeling of love for my country
- Amo la tua compagniaI love your company
- Amo questo postoI love this place
- Ti voglio beneI love you
- Ti adoroI adore you
- Sono innamorato/a di FirenzeI am in love with Florence
- 62 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Matteo and Martina are talking about their philosophies on life.
- MatteoSecondo me, vivere significa amare.In my opinion, living means to love.
- MartinaHai ragione, Matteo, è la cosa più importante.You are right, Matteo, it is the most important thing.
- MatteoSì, è bello amare senza limiti.Yes, it is beautiful to love without limits.
- MartinaSono d'accordo con te, Martina lo sa bene.I agree with you, Martina knows it well.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry amare, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries amare, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
