'I Love You' in Hungarian: Szeretlek
In Hungarian, "I love you" is Szeretlek. 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 Hungarian
Romantic Phrases in Hungarian — and What They Mean
| English Phrase | Hungarian Translation |
|---|---|
| I love you |
Szeretlek
|
| Love You |
Szeretlek
|
| We Love You |
Szeretünk
|
| I love you so much |
Annyira szeretlek
|
| Love you so much |
Nagyon szeretlek
|
| I love you forever |
Örökké szeretni foglak
|
| I will always love you |
Mindig szeretni foglak
|
| I adore you |
Imádlak
|
| You mean the world to me |
Te jelented nekem a világot
|
| Mommy Loves You |
Anya szeret
|
| Daddy Loves you |
Apa szeret
|
| My darling, I love you |
Drágám, szeretlek
|
| I miss you, my love |
Hiányzol, szerelmem
|
In Magyar, "Szeretlek" is a direct and heartfelt declaration of "I love you." It is a strong expression, typically reserved for deeply cherished relationships.
How to Pronounce It
- Sze- (like 'seh' in 'set')
- -ret- (like 'ret' in 'red')
- -lek (like 'lek' in 'peck'). Stress is on the first syllable: SZE-ret-lek.
What each word means
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Szeretlek | I love you (whole phrase) |
| szeret | love (verb root) |
| -lek | I...you (suffix for 1st person singular subject, 2nd person singular definite object) |
Ways to Say It in Hungarian
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Szeretlek | To a romantic partner or close family member. | strong |
| Nagyon szeretlek | To express 'I love you very much' to a loved one. | strong |
| Imádlak | To express 'I adore you,' conveying very passionate love. | strong |
| Szeretem őt | To say 'I love him/her/it' when speaking about a third person or object. | medium |
| Kedvellek | To express 'I like you,' suitable for friends or light affection. | light |
A quick grammar note
Hungarian verbs conjugate to include both the subject and object, as seen in '-lek' meaning 'I...you'. The language does not use grammatical gender. While 'Szeretlek' uses the informal 'you' (te), for a formal 'you' (Ön), one would typically say 'Szeretem Önt'.
When People Actually Say It
Hungarians generally express deep emotions like love with a degree of reservation, especially in public. "Szeretlek" is a significant phrase, primarily used within romantic relationships and with immediate family members such as children or parents. It's not typically used casually among friends or new acquaintances.
- Using "Szeretlek" too early or casually; it is a strong declaration of love.
- Confusing "Szeretlek" (I love you) with "Kedvellek" (I like you), which is for lighter affection.
How it sounds in a real conversation
A:
Szeretlek, drágám.
I love you, darling.
B:
Én is szeretlek téged!
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 Hungarian 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.