I Love You in Spanish: Te Quiero vs Te Amo Explained
Te quiero or te amo? How to say I love you in Spanish to a partner, family and friends, plus sweet phrases and terms of endearment.
By Ayoub Farid · · 2 min read
Spanish has two main ways to say "I love you", and choosing the wrong one can feel a little too intense, or not intense enough. Here's how native speakers use them.
Te quiero vs te amo
| Phrase | Literally | Used with |
|---|---|---|
| Te quiero | I want you / I care for you | Family, friends, partners (very common) |
| Te amo | I love you | Romantic partners, deep love; also parents and children in many Latin American families |
- Te quiero is everyday love. Parents say it to kids, friends say it to each other, couples say it daily.
- Te amo is deeper and more serious. In Spain it's mostly romantic and quite intense. In much of Latin America, families also use it.
When in doubt, te quiero is safe and warm.
Saying it to family
- Te quiero mucho, mamá. — I love you a lot, Mom.
- Te quiero, abuela. — I love you, Grandma.
- Los quiero mucho. — I love you all very much.
- Te extraño. / Te echo de menos. (Spain) — I miss you.
If you're reconnecting with family through Spanish, these phrases mean a lot. See talk to abuela in Spanish.
Saying it to a partner
- Te amo con todo mi corazón. — I love you with all my heart.
- Me encantas. — I'm crazy about you.
- Estoy enamorado/a de ti. — I'm in love with you.
- Eres el amor de mi vida. — You're the love of my life.
- Me haces muy feliz. — You make me very happy.
Answering "te quiero"
- Yo también te quiero. — I love you too.
- Y yo a ti. — And I you.
- Yo más. — I love you more.
Terms of endearment
- Mi amor — my love
- Cariño — darling
- Mi vida — my life
- Corazón — sweetheart
- Mi cielo — my sky / darling
- Gordo/a — affectionate in many families, not an insult
- Mijo / mija — my son / my daughter (also for younger people)
More in Spanish terms of endearment.
Writing it
- TQM — te quiero mucho (texting)
- TQ — te quiero
- Besos — kisses, a common sign-off
Practice saying it out loud
Saying something emotional in a new language feels strange at first. Practicing it out loud helps. Lolo's call with abuela is a gentle place to practice the warm, everyday Spanish families use. See also meeting your partner's family.
Frequently asked questions
Is "te amo" too strong?
In Spain, often yes, outside a serious relationship. In Latin America it's also used within families. Te quiero is always safe.
Can I say "te quiero" to a friend?
Yes. It's common between close friends.
How do you say "I love you too"?
Yo también te quiero or yo también te amo.
