Valentine’s Day is this weekend and, as you get ready to tell your loved ones how much you care about them, be sure you’re using the right term of affection! In English, we have it pretty easy. “I love you,” can be used in a serious sense to our significant others, to our families and close friends, and even playfully on a child’s Valentine’s Day treat. But in Spanish, it’s not so simple. Show
Believe it or not, it can be tricky to translate terms of affection in some languages. In Spanish, there are different expressions that mean, “I love you,” each falling on a different spot of the love spectrum. The two most popular are, “Te Amo” and “Te Quiero.” Both translate to mean, “I love you,” but they do not share the same context. One is extremely serious and romantic in nature, while and the other is more casual.  Yet another reason why you can’t pop it into Google Translate… It will translate both phrases to, “I love you,” but they are not the same. How do you know which one to use? (Better question: How does an automatic translation tool, like Google Translate, know when to use which one?) Te QuieroLiterally translated to, “I want you,” te quiero is most appropriate for expressing love to family, close friends, or significant others. Breaking it down even further, “querer” is like saying friends, cousins – hence the less romantic nature of this phrase. When to use it:
Te AmoThis phrase translates to, “I love you.” This is not something you’d say to a long-time friend or a 2nd cousin. Saying te amo is much more romantic and affectionate, and should be reserved for serious relationships and immediate family members. When to use it:
Correct Phrasing Is ImportantThese are just two of the more common ways to express your love in Spanish this Valentine’s Day. Even from this seemingly simple phrase, it’s easy to see how something more complex, like a business translation, should not be left up to an online tool or “a neighbor who knows Spanish.” If you type, “I love you” into Google Translate, chances are you may not get the phrase that correctly gauges the level of love you’re wishing to express. Spanish Translation for Businesses“Te Amo” versus “Te Quiero” is just one example of the subtle intricacies of the Spanish language, and how important cultural nuances and contextual cues are to communicating your message properly. To learn more about how professional Spanish translation services can help you, please send us a message using the form in the sidebar. One of our translators will be in touch with you shortly! There is a misconception about using te quiero vs te amo when expressing the concept of “I love you” in Spanish. Although quiero often means “I want,” te quiero can translate to “I love you” in certain circumstances. The two phrases are used in different ways across the vast Spanish-speaking world. Amar means to love. Te amo is a deeper, more intense declaration of love than te quiero, but it’s not reserved only for romantic relationships. When referring to a person, both amar and querer are Spanish verbs that mean “to love.” Still, there are certain nuances to using amar and querer with different people and in different situations. The te quiero vs te amo issue is admittedly not super clear cut. That’s why, for non-native speakers, finding the right words to convey our love in Spanish can be a challenge. Keep reading to learn when to say te quiero vs te amo, plus a variety of other words that express feelings of love in Spanish. Not yet ready TO LOVE someone? Learn how to say I LIKE YOU in Spanish with our blog post on the Spanish Verb Gustar. TABLE OF CONTENTS
Te Quiero vs Te Amo: Infographic
Join one of the 40,000 classes that we teach each month and you can experience results like these…“This is the best way for your kid to learn Spanish. It’s one-on-one, taught by native Spanish speakers, and uses a curriculum.” – Sharon K, Parent of 3 “It’s a great way to learn Spanish, from native Spanish speakers in a 1-on-1 environment. It’s been fairly easy to schedule classes around my daughter’s other classes. The best value for us has been ordering multiple classes at a time. All the instructors have been great!” – Cindy D, Parent of 3 “HSA offers very affordable, quality, one on one classes with a native speaker. My son has greatly benefited from taking classes. We have seen his confidence increase as well as his pronunciation improve, because he learns from a native Spanish speaker. HSA has quick, personal customer service. Our family has been very pleased with our experience so far!” – Erica P. Parent of 1 When to Use Te Quiero vs Te AmoIf you want to tell someone you love them in Spanish, should you say te amo or te quiero? Let’s take a closer look at the different uses of these verbs to better understand when to use te quiero or te amo. Are You a Visual Learner? Watch the Video: Te Quiero vs Te Amo
The Case for QuererIn general, the safer choice is “te quiero.” It will be understood and sound natural. Because querer is a common Spanish verb that often means “to want,” beginning Spanish students may not realize that it can also express love. Use querer with the following people:
Commonly, querer expresses wants and desires, as in the following examples: Marta quiere viajar a Asia el próximo año. Quiero una taza de café. But te quiero is actually the most common way to say “I love you” in Spanish! Since its literal translation is “I want you,” it may sound a bit strong to native English speakers. In Spanish, however, it has a lighter connotation of love and care. Friends and relatives frequently say “te quiero mucho” to one another. More specifically, querer is the light version of amar. While te quiero expresses affection, it doesn’t have a romantic or intimate connotation like te amo does. Querer Example Sentences and UsageTe quiero mucho. Beto quiere a Elisa. Quiero
mucho a mi familia. Ana quiere mucho a sus amigos. Querer is rarely used to say “I want you” in a romantic sense. Learn more about querer and its conjugation. What About Amar?In regards to te amo, the verb amar— depending on the region—isn’t used as much as querer by most native speakers. To some, it might sound like something a character would say in a telenovela and not something two young lovers would say in real life. To others, it may sound like a deeper declaration of profound love for a person. Te amo is a common expression in poetry, movies, and song lyrics. Use amar with the following people:
Keep in mind that te amo could come across as a little overpowering if you haven’t been with your partner for long! Amar always expresses a greater and deeper degree of affection than querer. The verb amar directly translates to the English verb “to love” and it expresses specific sentiments like warm attachment, devotion, and deep, loving admiration between kin or couples. As a result, use this phrase within meaningful relationships or very special people. Want to practice Spanish with a native speaker? FOR FREE?
Amar Meaning and UsesSimilar to the English verb, the Spanish verb amar has different uses. Here are some of the most common: Using Amar to Show AffectionThis Spanish verb declares the greatest and deepest love. It is considered intimate. You can use two different grammar structures with this verb. 1. Indirect pronoun + amar (conjugated) Te amo. ¿Me
amas? Mi mamá y mi papá se aman. Throw in an adverb to modify your phrase: Te amo muchísimo. Te amo tanto. Te amo también. If you’d like to express that a friend loves someone, you’ll need to make some adjustments to the structure. Be aware that even though the English translation remains the same, in Spanish, you need to add a preposition. 2. Person 1 + amar (conjugated) + a + person 2 Marío ama a Lucrecia. Yo amo a mis primas. Eduardo ama muchísimo a su esposa. Using Amar to Talk About Things You LoveIn some Latin American countries, such as Colombia, México, Costa Rica, and Guatemala, amar is also used to express that you like something strongly. For example: Amo esa película. Fernando ama los museos. Mis hermana y yo amamos practicar yoga. In Spanish, this use of amar is informal. If you’re traveling in Latin America, pay attention to whether or not the Spanish country you’re in uses amar this way. In some countries, such as Spain and Argentina, the previous examples would sound weird. If you want to play it safe and use standard Spanish, you should use encantar instead. Me encantó la película. A
Felipe le encanta viajar. A mis amigos y a mí nos encanta estudiar español. Learn more about verbs like encantar and gustar to express informal love. Get Your Free Spanish eBook!Before you learn more ways to say “I love you” in Spanish, get Homeschool Spanish Academy’s free eBook for beginners called Weird & Wacky Spanish Stories for Beginners! It’s best suited for A2 level and above, but it’s also perfect for A1 learners who wish to improve their fluency through reading. It’s fun for kids and adults! Get Your Free Copy of Weird & Wacky Spanish Stories for BeginnersType in your name and email to get 6 weird, wacky, and super entertaining Spanish stories for you and your family! Enjoy a magazine-style eBook with pictures and English-Spanish parallel text. Start reading in Spanish today! Amar, Querer, Adorar, Encantar, and More!The dictionary says that either amar or querer (and even desear and encantar) translate in some contexts to the verb “to love.”However, encantar is unlike amar, in that it doesn’t have an affectionate tone. Instead, it expresses that you like something or someone very much. When talking about objects or activities, adorar also expresses that you really like something. However, when referring to a person it would translate as “to adore.” Me encantó el final de la
novela. Adoré este episodio. Norma adora a su nieto. So, Which Do You Say: te quiero or te amo?Te quiero is useful for all kinds of loving relationships, including friendship, marriage, and family. Te amo is a common way of saying “I love you” in strongly committed romantic relationships or within families. Equally, querer and amar can be used in non-romantic contexts like the love of siblings. The ultimate difference is that amar shows a greater and deeper affection than querer. Romantic Spanish PhrasesLast but not least, here are some endearing Spanish terms for expressing love and affection to your most favorite people: Mi corazón – my heart Mi amor / mi amorcito– my love Mi cielo – my heaven/sky Mi vida – my life Mi cariño – my sweetheart Querido/a – dear Mi media naranja – my soulmate (informal) Alma gemela – soulmate (literally “soul twin”) Te adoro.– I adore you. Abrázame. – Hug me. Besame. – Kiss me. Do You Love Spanish?Te quiero vs te amo is just one example of the subtle nuances of the Spanish language. Cultural elements and contextual cues are key to communication. Practice your Spanish skills with our friendly certified teachers from Guatemala today in a free trial class. See how quickly and efficiently you can rock the Spanish language! What are your favorite Spanish terms of endearment? Leave a comment and start a conversation with Spanish learners from around the world! You asked for more fun and easy Spanish lessons. Here you go!
Michelle Margaret Fajkus is a bilingual writer and longtime yoga teacher. A former advertising copywriter turned bilingual elementary school teacher, she is now a freelance writer, editor and translator. A native Texan, Michelle has Mexican roots and learned Spanish in middle and high school. She has become more fluent thanks to living as an expat in Guatemala. She lives with her family on beautiful Lake Atitlan. Is Te amo Spanish?Te amo means “I love you” in Spanish and Portuguese—a two-for-one there, you aspiring papi chulo, you. For word nerds, te is the second person singular or familiar form of “you” and amo is “I love.” The expression is ancient: We can find te amo in the parent of Spanish and Portuguese, Latin.
Is Te amo appropriate?This phrase translates to, “I love you.” This is not something you'd say to a long-time friend or a 2nd cousin. Saying te amo is much more romantic and affectionate, and should be reserved for serious relationships and immediate family members.
Is Te amo French or Spanish?Saying “te amo” is a big step in any Spanish relationship. There are dozens of other ways to show affection, but this is the one that shows how much you truly care. Check out other Spanish phrases that you should know.
Should I say te amo or te quiero?So, Which Do You Say: te quiero or te amo? Te quiero is useful for all kinds of loving relationships, including friendship, marriage, and family. Te amo is a common way of saying “I love you” in strongly committed romantic relationships or within families.
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Do Spanish people say Te amo?
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