How to Say "I Love You" in Spanish

Quick Answer

I love you. = Te quiero. or Te amo.

young couple holding heart balloons

Te quiero. vs. Te amo.

Te quiero (which can be literally translated as I want you) is the most common of these two phrases. You can use it with family members, pets, friends, or significant others.
Te amo is reserved for your media naranja (your other half or special someone). It is normally only used to profess romantic love.

Other phrases that express love and affection include the following:

Spanish	English	Notes
Te quiero mucho.	I love you a lot. / I really love you.	This is just te quiero kicked up a notch.
TQM	xoxo or lyl	TQM stands for te quiero mucho. It's very common to see this in texts and emails.
Te adoro.	I adore you.	This phrase is similar to te amo in that it is reserved for someone you have romantic feelings for.
Me gustas.	I like you. / I find you attractive.	Commonly used to tell someone you have a crush on them.
Te extraño.	I miss you.
Estoy enamorado de ti.	I'm in love with you.	Use this version if you're male.
Estoy enamorada de ti.	I'm in love with you.	Use this version if you're female.
Besos y abrazos	xoxo	Another common way of ending a message when chatting with friends. You can also use besos (kisses), abrazos (hugs), un beso (literally, a kiss), or un abrazo (literally, a hug).

Looking for more translations to phrases like I love you? Check out our comprehensive bilingual dictionary for more!

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