Ways to say it
| French | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| je t'aime | /ʒə t‿ɛm/ | informal, singular |
| je vous aime | /ʒə vu.z‿ɛm/ | formal, plural |
| je t'adore | informal, singular | |
| je vous adore | formal, plural |
This phrase is used to affirm romantic feelings. While je t'aime is the standard declaration of romantic love, you can vary the intensity. For example, you might say je t'aime beaucoup to mean "I love you a lot," but be aware that adding an adverb can actually weaken the romantic weight to a more platonic "I like you a lot." To express even stronger devotion, you can use je t'aime plus que tout (I love you more than anything) or je t'aime à la folie (I love you madly). Other romantic expressions include Tu es l'amour de ma vie (You are the love of my life), Tu fais battre mon cœur (You make my heart beat) and Tu es mon petit rayon de soleil (You are my little ray of sunshine).
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase je t'aime is a contraction of je te aime. The word te (you) elides into t' because it comes before a vowel.
Which one should you use?
There is a distinction between the different forms of affection. je t'aime is the heavy-hitting declaration of romantic love. In contrast, je t'adore is often used more casually or platonically to mean "I think you're wonderful" or "I really like you."
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The form you choose depends on whom you are addressing. je t'aime and je t'adore are informal and used for one person you know well. For formal situations, or when addressing more than one person, use je vous aime or je vous adore.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In some parts of France, you might hear affectionate pet names such as Mon chou (My cabbage) or Mon lapin (My rabbit).
How does it change in a sentence?
When addressing more than one person, or when using the formal vous to address a single person, use je vous aime. While using the formal vous for a romantic partner is grammatically possible, it is quite rare for this specific phrase.
How do you pronounce it?
/ʒə t‿ɛm/
When do people say it?
Expressions of love can range from the direct to the poetic. In a formal context, one might use Je suis épris/éprise de vous (I am smitten with you) or Vous êtes cher/chère à mon cœur (You are dear to my heart).
Did you know?
- The French word for 'you' in the formal phrase je vous aime is a distant relative of the Russian word вы (vy) and the Italian word voi.
- The phrase je t'adore is frequently used to express a general fondness or high regard for a friend, whereas in English, 'I adore you' often carries a heavier romantic weight.
Examples in context
- PS : Je t'aime.PS: I love you.This sentence shows how to use je t'aime in a postscript.Tatoeba #848270 by sacredceltic, translation #1357022 by sacredceltic
- Mais je t'aime !But I love you!This sentence uses je t'aime to add emphasis.Tatoeba #10087314 by Rovo, translation #10087190 by ddnktr
- Papa, je t'aime !Daddy, I love you!This sentence shows a child using je t'aime to address their father.Tatoeba #5230593 by michelnialon, translation #2075226 by Vened
- 171 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
A quiet evening in a park.
- LucasChloé, je t'aime.Chloé, I love you.
- ChloéMoi aussi, je t'aime, Lucas.I love you too, Lucas.
- LucasTu es magnifique ce soir.You are beautiful tonight.
- ChloéMerci, tu es très gentil.Thank you, you are very kind.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “I love you” translations and entries je t'aime, je vous aime, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries je, vous, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
