How to say “i love you” in Spanish
The short answer
Te quiero
teh kee-EH-roh
Spanish has two ways to say I love you. “Te quiero” is warm and used with partners, family and close friends. “Te amo” is deeper and mostly romantic.
6 ways to say i love you in Spanish
Te quiero
teh kee-EH-roh
Means: I love you (warm, everyday)
Use it: Partners, family, close friends.
Te amo
teh AH-moh
Means: I love you (deep)
Use it: Romantic partners, and parents to children.
Te quiero mucho
teh kee-EH-roh MOO-choh
Means: I love you a lot
Use it: Affectionate, common at the end of calls and messages.
Te adoro
teh ah-DOH-roh
Means: I adore you
Use it: Sweet and affectionate.
Yo también te quiero
yoh tahm-bee-EHN teh kee-EH-roh
Means: I love you too
Use it: The reply (or “yo también te amo”).
Te quiero con todo mi corazón
teh kee-EH-roh kohn TOH-doh mee koh-rah-SOHN
Means: I love you with all my heart
Use it: Heartfelt messages and cards.
Pronunciation tips
- Don't say “te amo” to a friend; it sounds like a declaration. “Te quiero” is safer.
- In texts people shorten te quiero mucho to “tqm”.
More in Spanish
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Audio is AI-generated by SayHowTo for learning. Accents vary by country and region.