te amo
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.”
How to Use Te amo
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishSpanish for "I love you".
Romantic and sincere; not casual. Widely recognised by English speakers through song lyrics and tattoos.
Italian is ti amo with an i; Spanish and Portuguese use te. The two are often mixed up on tattoos.
Trace the full origin ↓Fill the Gap
Can you complete this real example?
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
View more →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".