phrase
te amo
tay AH-mo
Te amo (phrase) means a Spanish and Portuguese phrase meaning "I love you", used for deep or romantic love. Example: “He signed off every message with te amo.”
phrase
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A Spanish and Portuguese phrase meaning "I love you", used for deep or romantic love.
"He signed off every message with te amo."
"The chorus is just te amo repeated over a slow guitar line."
How to use te amo
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishSpanish for "I love you".
When to use it
Romantic and sincere; not casual. Widely recognised by English speakers through song lyrics and tattoos.
Memory tip
Italian is ti amo with an i; Spanish and Portuguese use te. The two are often mixed up on tattoos.
Trace the full origin ↓
Easily confused with
te quiero
te adoro
ti amo (Italian)
Common pairings
te amo mucho
yo te amo
te amo mi amor
siempre te amo
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He signed off every message with _____.
Etymology
Spanish and Portuguese, inherited from Latin te amo, 'I love you', through ordinary sound change rather than borrowed from it: te 'you' plus amo, the first-person present of amare, 'to love'.
Synonyms
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I love you
te quiero
je t'aime
Rhymes for te amo
See all rhymes for te amo →Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between te amo and te quiero?
In Spanish, te quiero is the everyday "I love you" used with friends, family and partners, roughly like "I care about you a lot". Te amo is stronger and more serious, reserved mainly for romantic partners and close family. Saying te amo too early in a relationship can sound intense.
Is te amo Spanish or Portuguese?
Both. The phrase is identical in spelling and meaning in the two languages, though Portuguese speakers, especially in Brazil, often say eu te amo with the pronoun included.
How do you reply to te amo?
The standard reply is yo también te amo ("I love you too") or simply también te amo. A shorter, warmer option is y yo a ti, "and I you".
What is the meaning of te amo?
"te amo" (phrase) means a Spanish and Portuguese phrase meaning "I love you", used for deep or romantic love.
