'I Love You' in Portuguese: Eu te amo
In Portuguese, "I love you" is Eu te amo. 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 Portuguese
Romantic Phrases in Portuguese — and What They Mean
| English Phrase | Portuguese Translation |
|---|---|
| I love you |
Eu te amo
|
| Love You |
Te amo
|
| We Love You |
Nós te amamos
|
| I love you so much |
Eu te amo tanto
|
| Love you so much |
Te amo muito
|
| I love you forever |
Eu te amo para sempre
|
| I will always love you |
Eu sempre vou te amar
|
| I adore you |
Eu te adoro
|
| You mean the world to me |
Você significa o mundo para mim
|
| Mommy Loves You |
A mamãe te ama
|
| Daddy Loves you |
O papai te ama
|
| My darling, I love you |
Meu bem, eu te amo
|
| I miss you, my love |
Sinto sua falta, meu amor
|
Brazilian Portuguese and European Portuguese are both used globally. In Brazil, "eu te amo" is very common and warm; in Portugal, people tend to be more reserved in verbal expression of love, often expressing it through actions.
Saying "I love you" in Portuguese is "Eu te amo." This phrase is used to express deep romantic love or strong affection for close family members.
How to Pronounce It
- Eu (EH-oo)
- te (chee) - *Brazilian Portuguese*
- a-mo (AH-mo) - *stress on the first syllable*
What each word means
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Eu | I |
| te | you (direct object pronoun) |
| amo | love (from the verb 'amar' - to love, conjugated for 'Eu') |
Ways to Say It in Portuguese
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Eu te amo eh-oo chee AH-mo |
To express deep romantic love or strong familial affection in Brazilian Portuguese. | strong |
| Amo-te AH-mo-chee |
To express deep romantic love in European Portuguese. Less common in Brazil. | strong |
| Eu amo você eh-oo AH-mo voh-SEH |
An alternative, slightly more emphatic way to say 'I love you' in Brazilian Portuguese, often used for emphasis. | strong |
| Eu gosto muito de você eh-oo GOHS-too MOO-ee-too jee voh-SEH |
To express strong liking or affection towards friends, family, or someone you're not romantically involved with yet. | light |
A quick grammar note
In Brazilian Portuguese, the object pronoun "te" (you) typically comes before the verb, as in "Eu te amo." In European Portuguese, the pronoun often follows the verb, becoming "Amo-te."
When People Actually Say It
Brazilians are generally expressive and affectionate. "Eu te amo" is reserved for deep romantic relationships or very close family ties, usually once a relationship has become serious. Public displays of affection are common, but the phrase itself holds significant weight.
- Using "Eu te amo" for casual friends or acquaintances, which can lead to misunderstandings.
- Forgetting the pronoun and saying just "Eu amo" without specifying who is loved, making the phrase incomplete.
How it sounds in a real conversation
A:
Meu amor, eu te amo tanto!
My love, I love you so much!
B:
Eu também te amo, meu bem.
I love you too, my dear.
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 Portuguese 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.