French · Everyday Verbs
"to love" in French: aimer
aimer
Note: also: adorer
To love in French is aimer. Je t'aime means I love you. With things, j'adore can feel stronger or more enthusiastic than j'aime. Romance uses aimer; save adorer for emphasis or passions.
To a partner
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How to pronounce aimer
Say it
eh-MAY
/ɛ.me/
Aimer is eh-MAY. Je t'aime is zhuh TEM. Aimons is eh-MOHN. Same verb family as "to like," with stronger context here.
"to love" in French: quick reference
| French | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| aimer | to love / to like Love with people; like or love with things. | Love with people; like or love with things. |
| je t'aime | I love you Direct romantic (or deep family) declaration. | Direct romantic (or deep family) declaration. |
| je vous aime | I love you (vous) Plural or formal singular. | Plural or formal singular. |
| adorer | to adore / love a lot Strong enthusiasm for things or people. | Strong enthusiasm for things or people. |
How to use aimer in real life
- 1To a partner
Je t'aime, tu le sais.
I love you, you know that.
Je t'aime is the core declaration.
- 2Long-distance call
On s'aime, même à distance.
We love each other, even from afar.
S'aimer is reciprocal.
- 3Family
Mes parents s'aiment encore après trente ans.
My parents still love each other after thirty years.
S'aiment for mutual love.
Mistakes English speakers make with aimer
Incorrect: Je t'aime bien (when you mean romantic I love you).
Correct: Je t'aime.
Je t'aime bien is I like you. Drop bien for love.
Incorrect: J'amour mon mari.
Correct: J'aime mon mari.
Amour is the noun. The verb is aimer.
Good to know
French cinema and songs lean hard on je t'aime, so the phrase feels weighty. Many couples still treat first je t'aime as a milestone. For hobbies, j'adore le foot is enthusiasm, not romance.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
A quiet evening confession
ChatPal
Je dois te dire quelque chose. Je t'aime.
I need to tell you something. I love you.
You
Moi aussi, je t'aime.
I love you too.
ChatPal
Ça me fait du bien de l'entendre.
It feels good to hear it.
You
On s'aime, c'est simple.
We love each other; it's simple.
This is a sample. In ChatPal you have this conversation out loud and get feedback on what you say.
Practice this conversation in ChatPal"to love" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "to love" in French
How do I say I love you?
Je t'aime with tu. Je vous aime with vous.
Is aimer the same verb as to like?
Yes. Context and phrases like aimer bien vs je t'aime change the strength.
When should I use adorer?
For strong liking: j'adore cette chanson. It can also intensify affection, but je t'aime remains the classic love line.
What does on s'aime mean?
We love each other / we're in love (reciprocal).
Learn a word, then use it out loud
- Step 1: See it in context
- Step 2: Say it out loud
- Step 3: Get feedback
- Step 4: Use it in real scenarios
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