Inklingo

How to Say "i love" in Spanish

English → Spanish

quiero

/KYEH-roh//'kje.ɾo/

VerbA2Informal
Use 'quiero' for expressing affection to family, friends, and romantic partners in a warm but not necessarily passionate way.
A person giving a warm, friendly hug to another person, showing affection for family or a close friend.

Examples

Te quiero mucho, abuela.

I love you very much, grandma.

Es mi mejor amigo, lo quiero como a un hermano.

He's my best friend, I love him like a brother.

Sus padres se quieren mucho.

Her parents love each other very much.

Loving a Person: The 'Personal a'

When you love a specific person or pet, you need to put the little word 'a' right before them. For example, 'Quiero a mi mamá' (I love my mom).

'Te quiero' vs. 'Te amo'

Mistake: “Using 'te amo' with a good friend.”

Correction: 'Te quiero' is perfect for friends, family, and romantic partners. It means deep affection. 'Te amo' is usually saved for very intense, profound, often romantic love. Start with 'te quiero'—it's used far more often!

amo

/ah-moh//'a.mo/

VerbA1General
Use 'amo' to express deep, profound love, most commonly for family or romantic partners, implying a very strong emotional bond.
A happy person tightly hugging a friendly brown dog, with floating red hearts indicating deep affection.

Examples

Amo a mi familia.

I love my family.

Amo el helado de chocolate.

I love chocolate ice cream.

Yo te amo más que a nada en el mundo.

I love you more than anything in the world.

The Personal 'a'

When you love a person or a pet, you need to add the small word 'a' right after 'amo'. For example, 'Amo a mi perro' (I love my dog), but just 'Amo el café' (I love coffee).

'Amo' vs. 'Quiero'

Mistake: “Using 'amo' for friends or in casual situations: 'Amo a mi amigo.'”

Correction: It's better to say 'Quiero a mi amigo.' The word 'amo' is very powerful and is usually saved for romantic partners, very close family, or God. 'Quiero' is a more common way to say you love or care for friends and family.

adoro

ah-DOH-roh/aˈðoɾo/

VerbA1General
Use 'adoro' to express intense liking, admiration, or devotion, often for things, activities, or even people you are very enthusiastic about.
A small child happily hugging a large, friendly teddy bear with great affection, symbolizing deep love and enthusiasm.

Examples

Adoro a mi perro, es el más inteligente del mundo.

I adore my dog, he is the smartest in the world.

Adoro comer chocolate después de un día difícil.

I love eating chocolate after a tough day.

Adoro tu nuevo corte de pelo, te queda muy bien.

I love your new haircut, it suits you very well.

The Personal 'A'

When 'adoro' refers to a specific person or pet, you must insert the word 'a' right before them. Example: 'Adoro a mi madre' (I adore my mother). If you are referring to a thing or activity, you skip the 'a'.

Using 'Adoro' for 'I want'

Mistake: “'Adoro un coche nuevo' (using 'adoro' to mean 'I want').”

Correction: Use 'Quiero un coche nuevo' (I want a new car). 'Adoro' is only for emotional affection or admiration, not for expressing needs or desires.

Choosing between 'quiero' and 'amo'

The most common confusion is deciding between 'quiero' and 'amo' for people. 'Quiero' is more common for general affection towards friends and family, while 'amo' signifies a deeper, more intense love, often reserved for romantic partners or very close family.

Related Translations

Learn Spanish with Inklingo

Interactive stories, personalized learning, and more.