They say, “all you need is love“… so I’m going to tell you how to say I love you in different languages. Are you ready to tell someone that you love them? Let’s go!
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I Love You Wall in Paris, France
During a visit to Paris, I discovered something called the “Wall of I Love You”. The concept for this large mural was inspired by the work of Frédéric Baron, who decided to start a collection of all the different ways to say I love you in the world.
Strictly for his own pleasure, he spent years wandering around Paris collecting information from various people. He said he felt that it was a way to go around the world without leaving Paris.
Eventually, he filled his notebook with an extensive collection of over 1,000 different ways in which to say this phrase. It was a calligrapher named Claire Kito who ultimately convinced him to share his collection with the public and that is what birthed the I Love You Wall.
Fun Facts About the I Love You Wall:
*There are approximately 311 phrases on the wall in over 250 languages.
*The wall is constructed out of 612 individual tiles made of enameled lava.
*There are several random-looking red specks on the wall. They are strategically placed “broken pieces” that when put together makeup one heart. (That’s my FAVORITE fun fact about the wall.)
*The I Love You Wall is the most popular place to propose in the 18th arrondissement.
*The notes that were collected were never intended to become anything other than something personal to Baron, but it became this famous work of art and later got published into a book.
It’s FREE to see this amazing mural. It is kind of hidden so you will have to look up the location. If you are in the area you can find it at Paris, Butte Montmartre, Place des Abbesses, in the Square Jehan Rictus. (Metro: Abbesses).
How to Say I Love You in Different Languages
English speakers use the famous three little words, “I love you” but it can have different meanings according to the context. It can be romantic or more casual depending on when you use it. In order to clearly express affection in a romantic way, we would say, “I am in love with you“.
I’m going to share various languages that communicate love by sharing various expressions, just like we do in English. Keep reading to see how to say I love you in different languages.
While it’s nice to hear expressions of love communicated in ANY language, there are a few languages that just seem to sound more pleasing. These are the “romantic languages“.
Although there are several romance languages, the major languages of love are French, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, and Romanian.
How to Say I Love You in French
I love you in FRENCH: Je t'aime
Since France is well known for being the language of love I figured we would start there. French is the official language of 29 Countries including, of course, France.
It’s important to know that saying je i’aime can have different meanings. It can mean I love you OR I like you. It all comes down to the context of the situation.
For romantic partners and significant others, add “très fort” to clearly communicate your love. That context will convey that you STRONGLY love them.
I love you in FRENCH: Je t'aime très fort (romantically)
How to Say I Love You in German
I love you in GERMAN: Ich liebe dich (romantic)
German is the official language in Germany, Austria, Belgium, and Luxembourg.
It is known to be a crude-sounding language and anything but romantic. Nevertheless, you can still communicate your love to a potential love interest in German.
Germans can be a bit reserved with their feelings so don’t expect the professions of love to flow all willy-nilly. If you are NOT trying to use “I love you” as a romantic phrase to a special person, then it’s a good idea to say, “Ich hab’ dich lieb” which means, “I have love for you“.
I love you in GERMAN: Ich hab’ dich lieb
How to Say I Love You in Italian
I love you in ITALIAN: Ti amo (romantically)
Italian is the official language of Italy, Switzerland, San Marino, Vatican City, Croatia, and Slovenia.
If you want to let your Italian partner know that you love them in a romantic way then you would say, “Ti amo“.
If you are not trying to communicate romantic love then you can say, “Ti voglio bene“. This is a way to send well wishes and basically means “I want what is good for you“. This is something you can say to family members or close friends.
I love you in ITALIAN: Ti voglio bene
How to Say I Love You in Spanish
I love you in SPANISH: Te quiero
The official language of Spain is Spanish. It is also the official language of 20 countries!
Much like some of the other languages, in Spanish there is a romantic way and a casual way to say, “I love you”. “Te quiero” is the more casual way you would say it to extended family and friends.
The best way you can communicate “I love you” with deep affection for a spouse or immediate family members is to say, “Te amo“.
I love you in SPANISH: Te Amo (romantically)
How to Say I Love You in Filipino
I love you in FILIPINO: Mahal kita
Filipino and English are the official languages of the Philippines.
The older generation of Filipinos is more reserved in sharing their feelings and don’t carelessly say, “I love you”. That means the phrase “mahal kita” is not used frequently. If you use it or you hear it then you know it holds true value.
How to Say I Love You in Portuguese
I love you in PORTUGUESE: Eu te amo
Portuguese is the official language of 9 states including Portugal.
Saying “I love you” or “eu te amo” is a common phrase and is freely used. You can also just say “te amo” which is shorter and means the same thing.
How to Say I Love You in Polish
I love you in POLISH: Kocham Cię
Polish is the official language of Poland.
“Kocham Cię” is the most common way to say “I love you” in Polish. It literally means “love you“. Similar to the English use of “I love you” it is widely used and is not specific to any particular type of strong feelings.
How to Say I Love You in Irish
I love you in IRISH: Gráím thú
The official languages of Ireland are English and Irish.
There are numerous ways to say “I love you” in Irish! It’s difficult to know which one is the most common. I selected “Gráím thú” because it is the easiest one to pronounce. “Gra” is the Irish word for “love“.
How to Say I Love You in Turkish
I love you in TURKISH: Seni seviyorum
Turkish is the official language of Turkey and Cyprus.
Saying “seni seviyorum” in Turkish has the same value as in any other language. It is the most common way to say, “I love you.”
How to Say I Love You in Swedish
I love you in SWEDISH: Jag älskar dig
Swedish is the official language of Sweden, Aland Islands, and Finland.
“Jag älskar dig” is a common way to say “I love you” in Swedish. Much like the use of the phrase in English, it can be used in any relationship. The depth of meaning would only change according to the context in which it is said.
How to Say I Love You in Sign Language
I love you with AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE: 🤟
Ever since I was young my sister and I were interested in sign language. We would take books out of the library so we could teach ourselves. One of the most-well known hand gestures is the sign for “I love you” in American sign language. It is a combination of the letters I, L, and Y.
How to Say I Love You With Body Language
I love you with BODY LANGUAGE: 🤗 (hug)
You don’t know a foreign language and you’re not one of those quick language learners? That’s okay, you can use body language. The universal language that says to anyone, “I love you” is a hug! The easiest way to express love is with a good long hug.
My Favorite App to Learn Different Languages
Are you fluent in a second language? I took French in school and it has helped me when I’ve gone to Paris, but I have a LONG way to go. If you’re looking for a fun and FREE app to help you with language learning then I suggest downloading the Duolingo app.
It has small lessons that are made to feel like you’re playing a game so it’s fun and easy to learn.
Looking for more ways to say, "I love you"?
The book How to Say I Love you in (almost) Every Language tells you how to say I love you in 150 languages. This is a fun gift for anyone. It has pronunciation tips and guides to help you pronounce “I love you” perfectly!
Have you ever seen one of these cute little What I Love About You books? I have given them as gifts and received them as gifts. They are a treasure! It’s a fun and thoughtful way to tell someone what you love about them.
This glass jar with I love you notes is filled with 31 positive reminders. One of the best things about this gift is your loved one can read them all at once or throughout the year. Each note is placed in a cute tiny envelope. It is a very unique way to let someone know how much you love them!
If you liked How to say I love you in different languages, then you might also want to read Paris: Eiffel in Love with Travel.
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