I love you in French is je t'aime (zhuh TEM). It is strong: said to a partner, a child or close family, it means love. Be careful with additions: je t'aime bien and je t'aime beaucoup both mean "I like you", which is weaker. To strengthen it, say je t'aime fort. The reply is moi aussi, je t'aime.
- I love you
- je t'aime
- I like you
- je t'aime bien
- I'm in love with you
- je suis amoureux / amoureuse de toi
- I love you too
- moi aussi, je t'aime
- Level
- A1
Why does je t'aime bien mean less than je t'aime?
French uses one verb, aimer, for both like and love, and the little words around it decide which. With a person, plain aimer means love. Adding bien or beaucoup pulls it back towards friendly liking, which surprises English speakers, who expect "a lot" to make it stronger.
| French | What it really says | Who to |
|---|---|---|
| Je t'aime | I love you | Partner, children, close family |
| Je t'aime fort / tellement | I love you so much | The same people, with feeling |
| Je t'adore | I adore you | Affectionate; also used warmly with friends |
| Je t'aime beaucoup | I'm very fond of you | A friend; can soften a romantic no |
| Je t'aime bien | I like you | A friend, a colleague you get on with |
| Tu me plais | I fancy you | Early romance, attraction |
| Je suis amoureux / amoureuse de toi | I'm in love with you | A declaration; amoureuse if a woman says it |
In a Contos A1 story, Camille is searching for sugar in her sister's flat and finds a letter that gives a secret away in three words:
Camille lit : Je t'aime, Théo.How do you say I love you to family and friends?
Je t'aime is the normal phrase with parents, children and siblings: je t'aime, maman. Between friends it can feel heavy, so French speakers tend to show it differently: je t'adore, je t'aime fort at the end of a message, or simply bisous (kisses).
Je t'aime, papa.
I love you, Dad.
Je vous aime, les enfants.
I love you, kids.
Vous here is plural: more than one child.
Je t'adore, tu le sais.
You know I adore you.
Warm, and fine between close friends.
Gros bisous, je t'aime fort.
Big kisses, love you lots.
Ending a message to family.
Be careful with things, though. With objects, food or activities, plain aimer means "like": elle aime lire is "she likes reading". Adorer is the stronger "love": j'adore le chocolat.
How do people write I love you in a French letter?
Love letters lean on pet names, above all mon amour (my love) and mon cœur (my heart). In this A2 chapter, Sophie inherits her grandmother's bakery and, behind the old oven, finds 23 old letters addressed only to "M.". The first she opens, dated 1962 and beginning mon amour, ends:
Personne ne doit savoir. Pardonne-moi. Je t'aime.Mon amour, tu me manques déjà.
My love, I miss you already.
Je t'aime de tout mon cœur.
I love you with all my heart.
Je pense à toi.
I'm thinking of you.
Missing someone has its own tricky grammar in French: see how to say I miss you in French.
How do you reply to je t'aime?
Moi aussi (me too) or moi aussi, je t'aime is the usual answer. Je t'aime aussi is also correct. To return the compliment playfully, couples say moi plus (I love you more).
French has many terms of endearment: mon chéri to a man, ma chérie to a woman, mon cœur and mon amour for either, and ma puce (literally "my flea") for a little one or a partner.
Read A1 French romance stories where every chapter ends on a cliffhanger, and tap any word to see its meaning.
Read free in your browserFrequently asked questions
How do you pronounce je t'aime?
Say "zhuh TEM". The j is like the s in "measure", the e in je is short and light, and t'aime rhymes with "them" without the th. The final e is silent.
Is je t'aime romantic?
With a partner, yes, it is the strongest everyday declaration. With parents and children it is simply love. Said to a friend, it can sound like more than friendship, which is why friends often prefer je t'adore.
What is the difference between je t'aime and je t'adore?
Between partners, je t'aime is the deeper statement and je t'adore is affectionate and lighter. Between friends, je t'adore is the natural way to say you love them.
How do you say I love you to someone you call vous?
Je vous aime exists, but between two people it sounds literary or old-fashioned; couples use tu. In everyday life je vous aime is mostly plural: to your children, your family or an audience.
How do you say I love you too in French?
Moi aussi, je t'aime, or just moi aussi. Je t'aime aussi is also correct.