How to Say "I Love You" in Spanish
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 mostly reserved for your media naranja(your other half or special someone). It is normally only used to profess romantic love, although in some countries, such as Mexico, it can also be used with family members.
Share the Love
Other phrases that express love and affection include the following:
Spanish | English | Notes |
---|---|---|
I love you a lot. / I really love you. | This is just te quiero kicked up a notch. | |
xoxo or lyl | TQM stands for te quiero mucho. It's very common to see this in texts and emails. | |
I adore you. | This phrase is similar to te amo in that it is reserved for someone you have romantic feelings for. | |
I like you. / I find you attractive. | Commonly used to tell someone you have a crush on them. | |
I miss you. | In some countries, such as Spain, you can also say Te echo de menos. | |
I'm in love with you. | Use this version if you're male. | |
I'm in love with you. | Use this version if you're female. | |
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). |
Singular vs. Plural
You is translated into Spanish in many different ways. Use the handy table below to help you decide which form you need to use.
examples |
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Want to learn more about direct object pronouns? Check out these articles!
• Direct Object Pronouns in Spanish
Terms of Endearment
Spanish is full of great nombres de cariño(terms of endearment) you can use to show your love! Take a look at this list of some of the most common terms of endearment in Spanish:
Spanish | English |
---|---|
sweetie or darling | |
baby cakes | |
handsome | |
beautiful | |
dear or honey | |
honey bunny | |
sweetie pie | |
cutie or handsome | |
cutie | |
handsome | |
gorgeous | |
cutie or handsome | |
cutie or beautiful | |
honey or sweetheart | |
my love | |
my sweet | |
honey or sweetheart | |
my darling | |
baby (male) | |
baby (female) | |
honey | |
honey |
Let’s take a look at a few examples!
examples |
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