How do you say "I love you" in Spanish?
Say Te quiero or Te amo. Both mean "I love you"; the difference is how strong and how romantic it sounds.
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Te quiero.Unit 30
I love you. (family, friends, a partner)
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amar · Te amo.Unit 30
to love · I love you. (stronger, mostly a partner)
The course card shows the verb amar ("to love") with the phrase.
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¡Te amo, cuídate!
I love you, take care!
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Te quiero mucho.
I love you so much. (warm: family, friends, a partner)
What is the difference between te quiero and te amo?
Te quiero is the everyday "I love you", fine for parents, siblings, close friends and a partner. Te amo is deeper and more serious, mostly for a partner; saying it to a new friend would sound far too strong.
| Phrase | Who you say it to |
|---|---|
| te quiero | Family, close friends, a partner |
| te quiero mucho | The same, warmer |
| te amo | A partner; in many families, children and parents |
| me gustas | Someone you like or have a crush on |
How do you say "I love you too" in Spanish?
Say Yo también te quiero or Yo también te amo, matching what they said. Between partners, a quick Y yo a ti ("and I you") is common too.
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Yo también te quiero.
I love you too.
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Y yo a ti.
And I (love) you.
How do you say "I like you" in Spanish?
To say "I like you" romantically, say Me gustas. It works the other way round from English: literally "you are pleasing to me".
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Me gustas.
I like you. (romantic)
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Me gustas mucho.
I really like you.
What mistakes do English speakers make with I love you?
The common mistakes are saying te amo too early, and Yo gusto tú for "I like you".
- Te amo to a friend. Friends say te quiero.
- Yo gusto tú or Te gusto for "I like you". Te gusto means "you like me". "I like you" is Me gustas.
- Te quiero doesn't only mean "I want you". About a person, it means "I love you".
How can you practice saying it out loud?
Say it to someone who answers. In CiaoSpeak's Spanish course, set in Mexico City, the lessons teach Te quiero and Te amo with a recording and a note on when to use it, and in the Speak tab a character in a real scene (a barista, a taxi driver, your language-exchange partner Ana) talks to you and you answer out loud. The app tells you whether a person would understand you, with one gentle fix if not. Lessons are free; in the Speak tab, today's questions (up to five a day) are free too, and CiaoSpeak+ adds practice in any scene whenever you like. More phrases: how to say everyday things in Spanish.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between te quiero and te amo?
Both mean "I love you". Te quiero is the everyday one, for family, close friends and a partner. Te amo is deeper and more serious, mostly for a partner.
How do you say I love you too in Spanish?
Say Yo también te quiero or Yo también te amo, matching what they said. Y yo a ti ("and I you") is common between partners.
How do you say I like you in Spanish?
Say Me gustas, literally "you are pleasing to me". Te gusto means the opposite: "you like me".