Want to learn how to say “I love you” in Italian? Si, si, of course you do.
Italian is a beautiful, lyrical language that has charmed visitors for centuries. But, here’s the thing. There are are few rules you need to know before you say those sweet words. In English, “I love you” is used in all situations. But in Italian, you’ll need to learn two different phrases or face some embarrassment!
The phrase I love you in Italian is said differently depending on who you are addressing – a romantic partner or family members and friends.
Ti amo – the Italian way to say I love you to a serious romantic partner
Ti voglio bene – say I love you to your family and friends in Italian
If you want to take it up a notch to: “I love you very much”, you can add ‘molto’. So Ti amo molto and Ti voglio molto bene. But just make sure to choose the right expression. Ti voglio bene will seem a little cold to a romantic interest. And ti amo is simply not quite suitable for your parents, brothers and sisters.
Read on to discover some other words to express your love the Italian way. And the right way to pronounce them! After all, getting the accent right is part of the allure.
10 more ways to say I love you in Italian
Let’s face it, a simple “ti amo” is sweet but you could take these words a little further and really sweep your lover off their feet. Italians use some beautiful phrases to express their love in a romantic way. Here are some suggestions to take your words beyond a cheeky “Ciao bella/bello!” (hello beautiful/handsome).
- Amore mio – my love
- Cuore mio – my heart
- Tesoro mio – my darling
- Baciami! – kiss me!
- Sei tutto per me – you’re everything to me
- Ti penso ogni giorno – I think about you every day
- Sei il grande amore della mia vita – You’re the love of my life
- Ti amerò sempre – I’ll always love you
- Sono innamorato(a) di te – I’m in love with you
- Sei sempre nel mio cuore – You are forever in my heart
- Sei la mia anima gemella – You are my soul mate
Expressing love and appreciation to your family in Italian
Family is very important to Italians so it follows that there are also many ways to share your love for your family with them in Italian. Whether it’s a special occasion like Festa de la Mamma (Mother’s Day) or just a friendly chat with nonna (grandma), here are some sayings to make your family feel special the Italian way.
- Ti voglio tanto bene – I love you so much
- Tanti auguri Mamma / Papà – best wishes Mom / Dad (for Mother’s / Father’s Day)
- Mamma / Papà / Nonna / Nonno sei migliore – Mom / Dad / Grandma / Grandpa you’re the best
- Mia cara mamma / figlia / nonna – my darling mom / daughter / grandma
- Mio caro papà / figlio / nonno – my darling dad / son / grandpa
- Dammi un abbraccio – give me a hug
- Dammi un bacio – give me a kiss
- Vita mia! – my life
- Cucciola / cucciolo – puppy / little one (term of endearment for kids)
- Tesoro mio – my treasure
- Polpetta/Polpetto – my little meatball! (very affectionate)
Perfecting your Italian accent
Now you know what some loving words are in Italian, it’s a good idea to know how to say them. No doubt these phrases sound much more beautiful with a charming Italian accent.
Here is the basic pronunciation of ti amo and ti voglio bene
- Ti amo – tee ah-moh – listen to the words
- Ti voglio bene – tee vol-yo ben-eh
If you want to spend a little more time on this then you could try practicing with the free resources from Duolingo or listening to a podcast like 5-minute Italian.
But if you really want to learn to speak Italian and create your own phrases of love then it’s a good idea to use a structured program like Rocket Italian. This is a three-stage self-paced course – beginner, intermediate and advanced – that uses a variety of techniques to help you speak and read Italian quickly. The online platform and app have built-in voice recognition technology that helps you to perfect your accent.
We like the way you can learn at your own pace with easy-to-digest 20-minute lessons. But, everyone learns differently, so it’s a good idea to test out what works for you. You can access the Rocket Italian free trial and try it for yourself or read our detailed Rocket Italian review.
Italian for love you
So now you know how to say I love you in Italian, are you inspired to learn more? If you have planned a trip to Italy you might want to brush up on these common phrases that are useful for travel. Or why not check out our guide to the best resources for learning Italian?
Our team of writers and creatives at Untold Italy are experts in keeping you informed and inspired about travel in Italy. Our team collaboration involves writers, photographers and editorial staff dedicated to sharing accurate Italy travel information.
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