Love in Spanish: Amor and How to Say It

"Love" in Spanish—how do you say it? And what are the different ways to express love? Here's the guide.

The Main Word: Amor

Amor (Love)

• Meaning: Love (noun)
• Usage: "Te doy mi amor" (I give you my love)
• Example: "El amor es hermoso" — Love is beautiful

Amar (To Love)

• Meaning: To love (verb)
• Usage: "Te amo" (I love you - romantic)
• Example: "Amo la música" — I love music

Different Types of Love

Te Amo (Romantic)

• Usage: Romantic love, deep love
• Example: "Te amo" — I love you (romantic)

Te Quiero (Friendly/Love)

• Usage: Friendly love, family, less intense
• Example: "Te quiero" — I love you (friendly/family)

Me Gusta (I Like)

• Usage: Less intense, liking
• Example: "Me gusta la pizza" — I like pizza

Common Expressions

Romantic

• "Te amo" — I love you (romantic)
• "Mi amor" — My love
• "Amor de mi vida" — Love of my life

Friendly/Family

• "Te quiero" — I love you (friendly/family)
• "Te quiero mucho" — I love you very much

General

• "Amo la música" — I love music
• "Me encanta" — I love it (stronger than "me gusta")

When to Use Each

Te Amo

• Romantic relationships: Significant other
• Deep love: Very intense
• Use carefully: Strong expression

Te Quiero

• Family: Parents, siblings
• Friends: Close friends
• More common: Less intense, more versatile

Master Love Expressions

The best way to master love expressions is through daily conversation. Learn context, practice with native speakers, and understand when each expression is appropriate. Try Parlai and practice Spanish through real conversations, learning natural expressions in context.