“Ti amo” or “Ti voglio bene”?
That is the question for italophiles on this day of San Valentino. The answer, it turns out, depends on the object of your affection.
“Ti amo” (I love you) is reserved for romantic loves, while “Ti voglio bene” (I want/wish you well) is used to say I love you to everyone: family, friends, and lovers. Per non fare brutta figura (to not make a faux pas) watch the video!
After the video, check out the round-up of Italian love phrases to help you sweep your adorato off their feet! Plus a link to send free online Italian Valentine’s Day cards.
Video: Saying “I love you” in Italian
Be your own Don Giovanni with these romantic phrases!
- Buon San Valentino (Happy Valentine’s Day)
- Ti amo. (I love you. Used only for romantic love.)
- Ti adoro. (I adore you.)
- Amore mio (My love, my beloved)
- Tesoro mio (My treasure)
- Ti voglio bene. (I love/care about you. Used for all types of relationships: family, friends, lovers.)
- I tuoi occhi brillano come le stelle. (Your eyes shine like stars.)
- Sei bella come una rosa. (You are as beautiful as a rose.)
- Per sempre (Forever)
- Per sempre tua/o (Forever yours)
- Sono pazza/o di te. (I’m crazy for you.)
- Anima mia (My soul)
- Sei incredibile. (You’re incredible.)
- Sei bellissima/o. (You’re beautiful.)
- Sei un dono. (You are a gift.)
- Sei stupenda/o. (You’re fantastic.)
Send a free online Italian Valentine’s card to someone special at www.kisseo.it.
A tutti i miei lettori un buon San Valentino! Siete fantastici! (To all of my readers, a happy Valentine’s Day! You’re fantastic!)
Got a favorite Italian love phrase or anecdote? Leave your comment below!
Ti voglio bene
Pietro
Grazie Pietro, anch’io tvb.
🙂
Jodina
Thank you Jodina. That was a nice video. I’m sitting in my office nearly falling asleep when I heard the sound of email on my iPad. Quando ho guardato il film, ho soriso! Kent
Ciao Kent, sono contenta che ti e` piaciuto il video.
Buon San Valentino!
Jodina
You are all of the above!!!!
🙂
Laurie-Jean
Grazie LJ! Sei un tesoro 🙂 xo
Jodina
I love nutella especially when you can get them in those little mini packs. I have eaten a whole jar in one sitting before. : ) And it has to be the original Nutella. Subsitutues just aren’t the same.
Ciao Diana-
Hai ragione! There is no substitute for the original Nutella 🙂
Grazie tesoro mio 🙂
This threw me when I first heard it said to a woman; it sounded funny since it’s masculine. I had a giant urge to say “tesora” instead, in spite of the blank looks it might cause. #languagequirks.
Infatti it does sound strano. Just like il sistema and la mano seem wrong. Not to mention le uova e gli zii. #languagequirks.