te quiero
/te ˈkjeɾo/
In Spanish, 'i love you' is expressed as te quiero. Wiktionary also lists te amo.
Meaning: affirmation of romantic feeling (phrase)
Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA |
|---|---|
| te quiero | /te ˈkjeɾo/ |
| te amo | /te ˈamo/ |
The phrase is an affirmation of romantic feeling. You can also use Te adoro to convey a deep sense of adoration and idolization. To intensify your declaration of love informally, you can say Te amo un montón, which adds the meaning of 'a lot'.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase te quiero literally translates to 'I want you', but in a romantic context, it is the standard way to say 'I love you'.
Which one should you use?
te quiero is a common, informal way to express affection for a wide range of people, including friends, family and romantic partners in the early stages of a relationship.
How do you pronounce it?
/te ˈkjeɾo/
Did you know?
- While 'te quiero' can mean 'I want you', saying it to a stranger in a non-romantic context might sound like a sexual proposition rather than a declaration of affection.
- If you say 'te amo' to a close friend in certain Latin American countries, it might be perceived as an unintended romantic advance rather than platonic affection.
- The accusative pronoun te in these phrases connects directly to the Latin 'tē', meaning the grammar of modern Spanish love is thousands of years old.
Examples in context
- Sé que te amo.I know I love you.This sentence is useful for expressing certainty about loving someone with te amo.Tatoeba #2412405 by marcelostockle, translation #2375989 by CK
- Te amo, tesoro mío.I love you, sweetheart.This sentence is useful for expressing love to 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 exactly as someone is using te amo.Tatoeba #998944 by hayastan, translation #386518 by Dorenda
- 132 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
A couple is having a quiet moment at home.
- LucíaTe quiero mucho, Javier.I love you very much, Javier.
- JavierY yo te quiero a ti, Lucía.And I love you, Lucía.
- Lucía¿De verdad?Really?
- JavierSí, lo digo en serio.Yes, I mean it.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “i love you” translations and entries te quiero, te amo, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries amo, te, te amo, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
