Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA |
|---|---|
| te quiero | /te ˈkjeɾo/ |
| te amo | /te ˈamo/ |
The phrase is an affirmation of romantic feeling. You can use te quiero as a versatile expression of affection for friends, family members and romantic partners. If you want to express an even stronger affection, you can say te quiero mucho. You might also use the phrase Eres el amor de mi vida to mean "You're the love of my life".
What does it mean word for word?
Literally, te quiero means "I want you", although in a romantic context it is the standard way to say "I love you".
Which one should you use?
te quiero is an affectionate and versatile expression used for friends, family or the early stages of a relationship, but it carries less weight than te amo. In contrast, te amo is used for deep, intense or romantic love.
How does it change in a sentence?
To say "I love him" or "I love her" instead of "I love you", you change the object pronoun from te to lo (masculine) or la (feminine).
How do you pronounce it?
/te ˈkjeɾo/
Did you know?
- Spanish has a specific word querencia derived from the same root as te quiero, referring to the place where one feels safest and most at home.
- In some regions, people use the phrase te quiero in a sarcastic or dismissive way during an argument to shut down a conversation, similar to how an English speaker might say 'whatever'.
- While te quiero can mean 'I want you', saying it to a stranger in a sexualized tone can sound much more aggressive or demanding than the English 'I love you'.
Examples in context
- Sé que te amo.I know I love you.This sentence shows how to use te amo to express knowledge of one's love.Tatoeba #2412405 by marcelostockle, translation #2375989 by CK
- Te amo, tesoro mío.I love you, sweetheart.This sentence uses te amo alongside a term of endearment.Tatoeba #1277931 by marcelostockle, translation #139171 by fengrim
- Te amo tal como sos.I love you just as you are.This sentence demonstrates using te amo to express love for someone's true nature.Tatoeba #998944 by hayastan, translation #386518 by Dorenda
- Te amo, abuelita. Eres un ejemplo de amor y bondad.I love you, grandma. You are an example of love and kindness.
- Te quiero mucho, hermano. Eres mi mejor amigo.I love you so much, brother. You're my best friend.
- Mi amor, te quiero más de lo que las palabras pueden expresar.My love, I love you more than words can express.
- 132 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
A couple is having a quiet moment at a park.
- MateoTe quiero mucho, Lucía.I love you very much, Lucía.
- LucíaY yo a ti, Mateo.And I love you too, Mateo.
- Mateo¿De verdad?Really?
- LucíaSí, siempre.Yes, always.
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.
