My Love in Spanish… +36 other Spanish love words


Looking for some inspiration for a Spanish Valentine Card, maybe? So, it is the perfect occasion for a review of some “Spanish love vocabulary”. How do you say my love in Spanish? What’s the Spanish word for love?

Let’s see!

Spanish word for love

as a noun:

as a verb:

  • Amar, querer.

How to say I Love You in Spanish?

There are basically two ways to say “I love you” in Spanish:

  • Te quiero: This is the most common way, not only for romantic love, but also to express affection for a loved one. Note that it is an irregular verb. Alejandro, te queremos (Alejandro, we love you).
  • Te amo: Also means “I love you”, but it is perhaps a more “intense” way of expressing it. It is somewhat less colloquial and more, say, poetic. It is more frequently used in a romantic way, but not exclusively. Amarás a Dios sobre todas las cosas y al prójimo como a ti mismo (You shall love the Lord your God above all things and your neighbor as yourself).

Hoy do you say My Love in Spanish?

Simply. In Spanish, “Mi Amor” is “My love”. For example, let’s use it in a typical sentence. The English sentence:

I love you so much, my love!

Would be typically translated to Spanish as:

¡Te quiero mucho, mi amor!

(Awww!)

Spanish Love Words and Phrases


Here are some Spanish words and phrases related to love, relationships, etc.

  • My love…: mi amor
  • Darling, honey: cariño, mi vida (my life),vida mía, cielo (heaven), tesoro (treasure), querido/a (mío/a)…
  • St. ValentineSan Valentín.
  • St. Valentine’s Daydía de San Valentín, or also día de los enamorados (lovers’ day).
  • Valentine (card)Tarjeta de San Valentín.
  • CupidCupido.
  • Love: (elAmor. I Can’t Give Back The Love I Feel For You: No puedo devolver el amor que siento por ti.
  • Love at first sightAmor a primera vista. Also, flechazo (literally, arrow shot).
  • HeartCorazón. I love you with all my heart: Te quiero con todo mi corazón.
  • To beat (heart)Latir.
  • Love letterCarta de amor.
  • Complimentcumplido, or, more coloquially, piropo. To pay compliments: hacer cumplidosechar piropospiropear.
  • Kissbeso. To kiss: besar. French kiss: beso en la boca (in the mouth), or beso con lengua (with tongue). Kiss me: bésame.
  • Caresscaricia. To caress: acariciar.
  • Hugabrazo. To hug: abrazar.
  • Passionpasión.
  • Couplepareja.
  • Boyfriendnovio (also means groom).
  • Girlfriendnovia (also means bride).
  • Loveramante.
  • Marriagematrimonio (matrimonio can also mean “married couple”).
  • Husbandmarido, or esposo.
  • Wifemujer, or esposa. I pronounce you man and wife: Yo os declaro marido y mujer.
  • Until death parts usHasta que la muerte nos separe.
  • WeddingBoda.
  • To fall in loveenamorarse (de). I’m in love with you. Estoy enamorado/a de tí.
  • To lovequereramar.
  • To blush, to turn redruborizarseponerse colorado/a.
  • To seduceseducir.
  • To flirtflirtearcoquetear.
  • To courtcortejar.
  • To marrycasarse (con), contraer matrimonio (very formal).
  • Beautifulbonitobello/hermoso (more “poetic”), precioso (waaay beautiful).
  • Handsomeprettyguapo/a.
  • Attractiveatractivo.
  • Seductiveseductor.
  • Tendercariñoso, tierno.

Finally, some other ways to say “I love you” can be: te adoro (I adore you),estoy loco/a por ti (I’m crazy about you), te quiero con locura (I love you madly).

Spanish love poems

Nothing can express love like some love poems. Here’s a short one, which is very well known in the Spanish culture:

¿Qué es poesía?, dices mientras clavas
en mi pupila tu pupila azul.
¿Qué es poesía? ¿Y tú me lo preguntas?
Poesía… eres tú.
— Gustavo Adolfo Bécquer

Here’s in English, translated by A.Z. Foreman:

“What’s poetry?” You ask me, as you rivet
Into my pupil your pupil of blue
“What’s poetry?” You of all people ask me?
Poetry is you.

But, of course, the indisputable master of Spanish love phrases was the Chilean Pablo Neruda. The book “Love Poems” contains some of the best Neruda’s poems, in the original Spanish and also translated into English (click on the image for more details and related books).

"Love Poems" book cover

If you are serious about learning Spanish, poetry is a must.

Happy (and successful) Valentine’s Day!

31 Comments

  1. Remy
    August 5, 2008

    Wow! Very glad to stumble across this article. Quite helpful. Many thanks!

    Reply
  2. Edu
    August 5, 2008

    So glad you liked it! 🙂

    Reply
  3. terry
    March 15, 2009

    I have met and I am going to marry a cuban women, she lives in florida, I love her, she can speak english, her whole family does, except her mother, so I want to learn some words to talk to my wife in spanish, plus would like to communicate with her mother. I printed some of the words in your introduction, I will start with those, thanks very much, oh it is not young love I just turned 65 but with the cuban beauty feel like I am 45, so very excited, will be married soon. thanks

    Reply
  4. terry
    March 15, 2009

    thank you so much printed some of your pages for my cuban lover, we will be married soon, this will help lots.

    Reply
  5. Edu
    March 16, 2009

    terry,

    You are very welcome. I’m very glad that this little article helped you. I wish you and your lover a very happy marriage. Good luck!

    Reply
  6. Danielle
    March 27, 2009

    This is really good i love it

    Reply
  7. leslie
    June 2, 2009

    i wanna tell a girl i love her but i cant

    Reply
  8. John
    February 10, 2010

    Way Cool! Thank you. This definitely helps my activity for today in class.

    Reply
  9. Edu
    February 10, 2010

    Glad to help 🙂

    Reply
  10. Cecilia
    February 16, 2010

    i may not be a big fan of valentines day but this is perfect since im learning Spanish and Chinese right now.

    Reply
  11. Maplove
    March 31, 2010

    You translators are doing a tremendous job… Please continue with the same!

    Reply
  12. K
    April 6, 2010

    I love this website my husband is mexican an is living in mexico right now while i am in the US working and finishing school so Ilove being able to tell him ilove him in his native language

    Reply
  13. bankjulz
    June 20, 2010

    el amor this page, i am happy i stumbled across this page…keep it up EDU , more of this

    Reply
  14. philip de jesus
    June 12, 2011

    mi pecados.yo amor mi novia.y yo amor mi mujer.

    Reply
  15. philip de jesus
    June 12, 2011

    yo soy cuidado con mi la boca y mila garganta.
    mi vida es el amor de pasion.

    Reply
  16. Drue
    November 16, 2011

    Great job with this site. I like it. I’m seeing a Columbian woman right now and she always says my love in Spanish. 🙂 I love the language it’s sexy lol. Thanks.

    Reply
  17. Serchhip Chelsea
    February 14, 2012

    I want to learn spanish love and polite words

    Reply
    1. nour
      October 27, 2016

      ok we will

      Reply
  18. Michelle. O
    February 29, 2012

    Thank-you for this website. My boyfriend is Mexican and he doesn’t speak English a lot in am fallen in love with him everyday more and more. Just to learn Spanish for him is amazing.

    Reply
  19. Secretlover
    November 8, 2012

    This is wonderful! I’m in love with someone and wanted a special way to tell him that. Now i will tell him in Spanish and he will be amazed! Great work. Keep it up!

    Reply
  20. Sreejith k attingal
    January 14, 2013

    I am from India. A movie producer. Right now i am working on an Englis-Spanish music album. Your article. Helped me so much. Gracias amigo.

    Reply
  21. eduardo
    January 14, 2013

    You’re welcome, Sreejith! I’m glad this post helps. Good luck with your work!

    Reply
  22. kailey
    February 15, 2013

    im 9 and i no all the love words in spanish!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    Reply
  23. Andreas Mariel
    February 18, 2013

    i love the words i love Spanish language wish i could learn how to speak it fluently

    Reply
  24. Slim
    March 30, 2013

    Gracias,i love this

    Reply
  25. joy
    July 24, 2013

    I love Spanish. Muchas gracias

    Reply
  26. Cassandra
    April 2, 2018

    what about I love you so much? how do you say that in spanish?

    Reply
    1. eduardo
      April 2, 2018

      Hi, Cassandra 🙂

      It would be “Te quiero mucho”, or, for more emphasis, “Te quiero muchísimo”. In this case, a synonym for “quiero” (I love) is “amo”.

      Reply
  27. kassahun Deneke
    March 18, 2019

    I love Spanish girl. she speak Spanish and also English. I try to speak English. what shall I do speak Spanish what do you suggest me.

    Reply
    1. eduardo
      March 18, 2019

      Hi, Kassahun. I would say… speak the language she loves the most… Then, she may want to help you, teach you some words and phrases, etc. Good luck!

      Reply
  28. VANDRUNEN4155
    January 1, 2021

    Thank you!!1

    Reply

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