What does it mean word for word?
The phrase te queremos literally means "we want you". However, when used in the context of people, the verb querer is the standard verb for "to love".
Which one should you use?
Te queremos is used for standard affection toward friends and family. In contrast, te amamos is much more intense and is often reserved for romantic or profound spiritual love. Additionally, te amamos mucho can be used to say "we love you a lot".
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Argentina, Te amamos is a commonly used expression. In Mexico, you might hear ¡Te adoramos! to convey strong affection. For addressing a group of people, the form changes based on location: in Spain, use os queremos, while in Latin America, use los queremos.
How does it change in a sentence?
To change the phrase from "we love you" to "I love you", you use the first-person singular form te quiero. As noted in the regional section, if you are addressing more than one person, use os queremos in Spain or los queremos in Latin America.
How do you pronounce it?
/te keɾemos/
Did you know?
- In Spain, the use of os queremos employs the 'vosotros' form, a plural 'you' that is almost entirely absent in Latin American speech.
- The phrase te queremos can be used sarcastically in some dialects to indicate that a group is not actually fond of a person, often signaled by a specific tone of voice.
- In many Spanish-speaking cultures, saying te quiero or te queremos to a close friend is a common way to show support, whereas in English, 'I love you' can sometimes feel too heavy for platonic friendships.
Examples in context
- Sabes que te queremos.You know we love you.This sentence shows how to state that someone knows you love them using te queremos.Tatoeba #4554881 by swyter, translation #2547462 by CK
- Te queremos.We love you.This sentence is a direct way to say "We love you" using te queremos.Tatoeba #3791292 by Seael, translation #2241155 by CK
- Te queremos tanto.We love you so much.This sentence expresses the idea of loving someone very much using te queremos.Tatoeba #1096965 by Shishir, translation #954476 by CK
- 1 more sentence on Tatoeba
Example conversation
A family is saying goodbye to Javier at the airport.
- Lucía¡Buen viaje, Javier!Have a good trip, Javier!
- JavierGracias, nos vemos pronto.Thanks, see you soon.
- LucíaNo olvides que te queremos mucho.Don't forget that we love you very much.
- JavierYo también los quiero a ustedes.I love you guys too.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
