Italian · Greetings & Essentials

"I love you" in Italian: ti amo

ti amo

Say it: tee AH-mohphrase/ti ˈa.mo/

Note: to friends and family: ti voglio bene

I love you in Italian is ti amo (tee AH-moh) for romantic partners. With family and close friends, ti voglio bene is the warmer everyday line. Keep the whole phrase ti amo.

Saying goodbye at the airport

Ti amo. Scrivimi appena atterri.
I love you. Write me as soon as you land.
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How to pronounce ti amo

Say it

tee AH-moh

/ti ˈa.mo/

tee AH-moh. Amo stresses AH. Soft and clear, not rushed.

"I love you" in Italian: quick reference

ItalianEnglish
ti amoI love you (romantic)

Partners; strong declaration.

ti voglio beneI love you / I care for you

Family and deep friendship.

vi amoI love you (plural)

To more than one person, still romantic tone.

anche io ti amoI love you too

Reply to ti amo.

How to use ti amo in real life

  1. 1Saying goodbye at the airport

    Ti amo. Scrivimi appena atterri.

    I love you. Write me as soon as you land.

    Whole phrase ti amo.

  2. 2A quiet evening

    Non lo dico spesso, ma ti amo davvero.

    I don't say it often, but I really love you.

    Ti amo with davvero.

  3. 3Replying to a partner

    Anche io ti amo, stai tranquillo.

    I love you too—don't worry.

    Anche io ti amo as the reply.

Mistakes English speakers make with ti amo

Incorrect: Ti amo, mamma!

Correct: Ti voglio bene, mamma!

Ti amo is romantic. With parents, ti voglio bene is natural.

Incorrect: Amo te.

Correct: Ti amo.

Standard word order is ti amo, with ti before the verb.

Good to know

Italians treat ti amo as weighty—more marriage-vow energy than casual English I love you. Friends and family live on ti voglio bene, hugs, and pet names instead.

Try it in a ChatPal conversation

A nervous first I-love-you chat

  1. ChatPal

    Posso dirtelo? Ti amo.

    Can I tell you? I love you.

  2. You

    Anch'io ti amo. Mi hai reso felice.

    I love you too. You've made me happy.

  3. ChatPal

    Non volevo forzare. Ti amo senza fretta.

    I didn't want to rush it. I love you without hurry.

  4. You

    Lo so. Ti amo e basta.

    I know. I love you, and that's enough.

This is a sample. In ChatPal you have this conversation out loud and get feedback on what you say.

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"I love you" in other languages

FAQ

Common questions about "I love you" in Italian

When should I say ti amo?

For a romantic partner when the feeling is serious.

What do I say to family?

Ti voglio bene.

How do I reply to ti amo?

Anche io ti amo, or anch'io ti amo.

Is amo te ok?

People will understand, but ti amo is the natural form.

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