I love you in Italian is Ti amo (tee AH-moh), for romantic love. To family and friends, Italians say Ti voglio bene (tee VOHL-lyoh BEH-neh), literally "I want good for you". Couples use both, but ti amo is the stronger, more serious phrase and is not said to friends or, usually, to parents.
- Romantic
- Ti amo
- Family, friends, partners
- Ti voglio bene
- I love you too
- Anch'io ti amo / Anch'io ti voglio bene
- My love
- Amore mio
- Level
- A1
Ti amo or ti voglio bene: what is the difference?
English has one I love you for everyone. Italian has two. Ti amo is passionate, romantic love. Ti voglio bene is deep affection: you say it to your mother, your best friend, your children, and also to a partner.
| Italian | English | Who to say it to |
|---|---|---|
| Ti amo | I love you | A partner; romantic only |
| Ti voglio bene | I love you, I care about you | Family, close friends, children, a partner |
| Ti voglio tanto bene | I love you so much | The same people, with feeling |
| Vi voglio bene | I love you (all) | A group: your family, your friends |
| Ti adoro | I adore you | A partner; also playful with friends |
| Sono innamorato di te / Sono innamorata di te | I'm in love with you | Innamorato if you are a man, innamorata if you are a woman |
| Mi piaci | I like you / I fancy you | Someone you're attracted to |
Because ti voglio bene is gentler, it is often the first I love you in a new romance. In chapter 2 of a Contos A1 comedy, twin sisters have swapped lives for a week, and a young bookseller with a crush on Giulia says it to the twin who is only pretending to be her:
"Ciao Giulia," dice Tommaso. "Ti voglio bene."How do you reply to ti amo?
Echo the phrase with anch'io (me too). The order is flexible.
Anch'io ti amo.
I love you too.
Ti amo anch'io.
I love you too.
Same meaning, a little more emphasis on the feeling.
Anch'io ti voglio bene, mamma.
I love you too, Mum.
Ti amo da morire.
I love you to death.
A common, intense way to say it.
Ti amo più di ogni altra cosa.
I love you more than anything.
How do Italians use amore and other pet names?
Amore (love) is the classic term of endearment between partners, and amore mio (my love) is warmer still. It is not only romantic: Italian parents call their children amore all the time. In chapter 2 of a Contos B1 mystery set in Rome, a mother answers her worried daughter while hiding something from her:
"Sì, amore, certo," risponde, ma sa che sta per fare una scelta che cambierà tutto.- amore (mio)(my) love
- tesorotreasure, sweetheart
- caro / caradear
- piccolo / piccolalittle one
- cucciolo / cucciolapuppy, cub: a cute pet name
What mistakes do learners make with I love you?
Saying ti amo to a friend sounds like a declaration of romantic love. Use ti voglio bene instead. The same goes for mi piaci: to a friend it means you fancy them. To say you like someone as a person, use mi stai simpatico (to a man) or mi stai simpatica (to a woman).
For things, amo sounds emphatic. Italians more often say adoro or mi piace tantissimo: adoro la pizza, mi piace tantissimo Roma. Good night messages often end with a pet name too; see how to say good night in Italian. Missing someone uses a back-to-front verb; it is explained on how to say I miss you in Italian.
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Read free in your browserFrequently asked questions
How do you pronounce ti voglio bene?
"Tee VOHL-lyoh BEH-neh". The gli in voglio sounds like the lli in "million"; don't pronounce a hard g. Stress the vo and the be.
Can you say ti voglio bene to your partner?
Yes, and many couples do, every day. It is affectionate and sincere. Ti amo is the more intense, romantic version, often kept for serious moments.
Can you say ti amo to your mother?
It is unusual. Italians say ti voglio bene, mamma to their parents. Ti amo between parent and child can sound odd, because it is understood as romantic.
What does ti voglio bene mean literally?
"I want good for you" or "I wish you well". Volere bene a qualcuno means to love or care for someone, so you can also say gli voglio bene (I love him) or le voglio bene (I love her).