'I Love You' in Irish: Tá grá agam duit
In Irish, "I love you" is Tá grá agam duit. 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 Irish
Romantic Phrases in Irish — and What They Mean
| English Phrase | Irish Translation |
|---|---|
| I love you |
Tá grá agam duit
|
| Love You |
Grá agam duit
|
| We Love You |
Tá grá againn duit
|
| I love you so much |
Tá an-ghrá agam duit
|
| Love you so much |
An-ghrá agam duit
|
| I love you forever |
Beidh grá agam duit go deo
|
| I will always love you |
Beidh grá agam duit i gcónaí
|
| I adore you |
Adhraím thú
|
| You mean the world to me |
Is tú an saol dom
|
| Mommy Loves You |
Tá grá ag Mamaí duit
|
| Daddy Loves you |
Tá grá ag Daidí duit
|
| My darling, I love you |
A stór, tá grá agam duit
|
| I miss you, my love |
Airím uaim thú, a ghrá
|
Saying "I love you" in Gaeilge, or Irish, uses a unique grammatical structure. "Tá grá agam duit" literally means "Love is at me for you," expressing deep affection.
How to Pronounce It
- Tá (Tah)
- grá agam (grah UG-um)
- duit (ditch)
What each word means
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Tá | is/am/are (present tense of 'to be') |
| grá | love (noun) |
| agam | at me / with me (prepositional pronoun from 'ag' + 'mé') |
| duit | to you (prepositional pronoun from 'do' + 'tú') |
Ways to Say It in Irish
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Tá grá agam duit Tah grah UG-um ditch |
Expressing deep romantic love, or strong familial love. | strong |
| Is breá liom thú Iss brah LYUM hoo |
Meaning 'I like you' or 'I love you' (less intense than 'grá'), for friends, family, or things you enjoy. | medium |
| Is tú mo ghrá Iss too muh ghrah |
Literally 'You are my love,' a very romantic and poetic expression. | strong |
| Tá cion agam ort Tah kyuhn UG-um ort |
Meaning 'I have affection for you,' a lighter way to show fondness for friends or family. | light |
A quick grammar note
Gaeilge uses a Verb-Subject-Object (VSO) word order. The phrase "Tá grá agam duit" employs a common structure with the verb 'tá' (is) and prepositional pronouns to express states of being or possession, rather than a direct verb for 'love'.
When People Actually Say It
Irish people are known for their warmth, but expressions of deep romantic love like "Tá grá agam duit" are often reserved for very close relationships. It's typically said when the sentiment is truly felt, rather than casually or in very public settings.
- Trying to directly translate "I love you" from English, leading to incorrect grammar like "mé grá tú".
- Confusing 'grá' (love, noun) with 'breá' (fine, beautiful, good), which is used in 'Is breá liom thú'.
How it sounds in a real conversation
A:
A Sheáin, tá grá agam duit.
Seán, I love you.
B:
Tá grá agam duit freisin, a Cháit.
I love you too, Cáit.
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 Irish 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.