'I Love You' in Greek: Σ'αγαπώ
In Greek, "I love you" is Σ'αγαπώ — pronounced S'agapo. Here is how to say it right, what the related phrases mean, and when to use them.
Translation
How to say "I Love You" in Greek
Romantic Phrases in Greek — and What They Mean
| English Phrase | Greek Translation |
|---|---|
| I love you |
Σ'αγαπώ
|
| Love You |
Σ'αγαπώ
|
| We Love You |
Σ'αγαπάμε
|
| I love you so much |
Σ'αγαπώ τόσο πολύ
|
| Love you so much |
Σ'αγαπώ πολύ
|
| I love you forever |
Θα σ'αγαπώ για πάντα
|
| I will always love you |
Θα σ'αγαπώ πάντα
|
| I adore you |
Σε λατρεύω
|
| You mean the world to me |
Είσαι τα πάντα για μένα
|
| Mommy Loves You |
Η μαμά σ'αγαπάει
|
| Daddy Loves you |
Ο μπαμπάς σ'αγαπάει
|
| My darling, I love you |
Αγάπη μου, σ'αγαπώ
|
| I miss you, my love |
Μου λείπεις, αγάπη μου
|
Ancient Greek had multiple words for love: eros (romantic), philia (friendship), storge (family), and agape (unconditional). Modern Greek "s'agapó" (σ'αγαπώ) carries echoes of all of these, making it a particularly rich declaration.
In Ελληνικά (Greek), the phrase "Σ'αγαπώ" means "I love you." This is a very strong and meaningful expression, usually saved for deep personal connections.
How to Pronounce It
- Σ'α (S'a - like 'sa' in 'sad')
- γα (ga - like 'ga' in 'garden')
- πώ (pó - like 'po' in 'pole', with stress on the 'o')
What each word means
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Σ' | you (object pronoun, contracted from Σε) |
| αγαπώ | I love |
| (Σ'αγαπώ) | I love you |
Ways to Say It in Greek
Not every version means the same thing. Some are casual, some are serious. Pick the one that matches how you actually feel.
| Phrase | When to use it | Strength |
|---|---|---|
| Σ'αγαπώ S'agapo |
standard, for deeply romantic love or very close family | medium |
| Σ'αγαπάω S'agapao |
a common, slightly more informal variant of 'I love you' | medium |
| Σ'αγαπώ πολύ S'agapo poli |
to express 'I love you very much' | strong |
| Σ'αγαπώ κι εγώ S'agapo ki ego |
as a response: 'I love you too' | medium |
| Σ'αγαπώ, φίλε/φίλη S'agapo, file/fili |
platonic love for a very close male (φίλε) or female (φίλη) friend | light |
A quick grammar note
In Greek, the verb "αγαπώ" (agapo) already means "I love" due to its conjugation. The "Σ'" (se) is a direct object pronoun meaning "you," forming the full phrase "I love you." There is no gender agreement for the verb itself.
When People Actually Say It
Greeks are known for their expressive nature, but "Σ'αγαπώ" is typically reserved for profound romantic love, a spouse, or very immediate family members like children or parents. It is not usually used casually among friends or acquaintances.
- Using "Σ'αγαπώ" too casually or with people who are not extremely close, which can be misunderstood.
- Misplacing the stress in pronunciation; it must be on the final syllable (-πώ).
How it sounds in a real conversation
A:
Σ'αγαπώ, καρδιά μου.
I love you, my heart.
B:
Σ'αγαπώ κι εγώ.
I love you too.
Keep Going
Once you can say it out loud, the next step is writing it down. Our AI love letter generator can write a full letter in Greek for you, and our collection of love quotes is useful if you want to borrow better words. You can also add the right symbol with our guide to love emoji meanings.