Love is complicated. Some say that it is a cultural phenomenon while others say it is based on individual chemical makeup while yet others say it is God-sent, divine. Confusion adds to complication when love ventures into other languages–especially Spanish. Love in Spanish need not be so complicated, amigo! Master the different ways to say ‘I love you’ and you will be well equipped to say it to anyone, anywhere…in Spanish.
The Battle Between Te Quiero and Te Amo
Te quiero - Te quiero is simple. It literally translates to ‘I want you’ but is translated to ‘I love you.’ It can be used towards your family, friends, and spouse/girlfriend/boyfriend. This is the safest way to say ‘I love you’ to anyone you want to express your love towards.
Te amo - Te amo means ‘I love you’ as well but it cannot be used when in reference to your family and friends. This term is rarely used in general but when it is, it is reserved for your lover/true love. You might see ‘Te amo‘ in classic Spanish literature and poems too.
Other Love-ly Phrases
Te extraño - I miss you
Me gustas - A romantic kind of like that implies desires, wants, sexuality and lust
Te quiero para me or Quiero que seas mio-a - I want you
un par de tortolitos - a pair of lovebirds
enamorarse de alguien - to fall in love with someone
estar enamorado(a) de alguien - to be in love with someone
el amor de mi vida - the love of my life
fue un flechazo - it was love at first sight
amante - a lover
June 10th, 2008 at 3:15 pm
Hi There my name is Barbarella but everyone calls me Barbie, i just joined and thus far i am finding the site very use full and basically quite hard. Any way nice to meet you.
June 11th, 2008 at 4:39 am
thanks…i’ve learned alot…:)
June 19th, 2008 at 9:35 pm
hi helow guys thank a lot coz i really learn more about how to say i love you…c u l8r on..muah
June 25th, 2008 at 8:32 pm
¡Hola! Mucha gusta! i learned some new vocab here and it is very useful lol thanx
August 3rd, 2008 at 11:04 pm
I have a spanish boyfriend and I love to surprise him so I looked up some phrases on here and let’s just say it made my evening “interesting”
so thanks for all ur help
August 20th, 2008 at 4:17 pm
I have learned so much in just the week I have used your site. You make learning spanish so easy. I look forward to your site each day. I am basically, with your help, teaching myself to speak my third language. I am communicating with the cleaning staff on my job more efficiently. Thanks for making it so user-friendly!
September 20th, 2008 at 1:41 am
Hola! Weno (used by youths for the word bueno), another palabra o frasa that is used often is TE ADORO, this literally means I adore you, but translates to I love you. This can be used for family and friends, not just lovers, pero is most often used for lovers en telenovelas.
es totalmente padrisimo! (the word for father is often used to means something really cool)
November 1st, 2008 at 7:36 am
hehehe, interesting , thank u:)
March 21st, 2009 at 9:19 pm
The most useful site for Spanish learners ever. Period.