Here’s How To Say “I Love You” In 37 Different Languages

Love. Such a beautiful thing in every culture. Love, as a deep emotional attachment to others, is basically a human universal: every single society experiences it in some form or another. No matter the place, no matter the time, no matter the language. Regardless of how corny or cynical you are, “I love you” is among the most beautiful expressions you can ever say, be it to your family, friends, S.O., or even to yourself. And you know it’s a worthy phrase to learn in as many languages as you can! That’s both extremely romantic and reasonably practical, so, whether you’re a Grinch or a lover, here are 37 translations for “I love you” you’ll want to keep in your linguistic repertoire.

Afrikaans (South Africa)

Ek het jou lief

Arabic (North Africa, Middle East, East Africa)

Ana behibek (if you say it to a woman)

Ana behibak (if you say it to a man)

Basque (Northern Spain)

Maite zaitut

Chinese (China)

Wǒ ài nǐ (Mandarin)

Ngóh oi néih (Cantonese)

Catalan (Andorra, Spain, France, Italy)

T’estimo

Croatian (Serbia, Croatia, Bosnia and Montenegro)

Volim te

Czech (Czech Republic)

Miluji tě

Dutch (Belgium, Netherlands and Suriname)

Ik hou van je

Farsi (Iran, Afghanistan, Tajikistan)

Dūset dāram

French (France, Belgium, Canada, Switzerland, Francophone Africa, French Caribbean, French Polynesia)

Je t’aime (literal translation, but expressing a somewhat weaker sentiment as aimer also means ‘to like‘)

Je t’adore (a stronger sentiment)

German (Germany, Austria, Belgium, Luxembourg, Liechtenstein, Switzerland, South Tirol)

Ich liebe dich

Greek (Greece, Cyprus)

Se agapó

Hebrew (Israel)

Ani Ohev Otach (man to woman)

Ani Ohevet Otcha (woman to man)

Ani Ohevet Otach (woman to woman)

Ani Ohev Otcha (man to man)

Hindi (India, Fiji, Nepal)

Main tumse pyār kartā hūn (man)

Main tumse pyār kartī hūn (woman)

Hungarian (Hungary)

Szeretlek

Icelandic (Iceland)

Ég elska þig

Italian (Italy, Switzerland, San Marino)

Ti amo

Japanese (Japan)

Anata ga suki desu (a weaker sentiment, similar to ‘I like you’)

Ai shiteru (a more literal translation, a stronger sentiment)

Korean (North Korea, South Korea)

Salanghae

Nahuatl (Mexico)

Ni mitz tlazohtla

Nepali (Nepal, India)

Ma timīlā’ī māyā garchu

Norwegian (Norway)

Jeg elsker deg (Bokmål)

Eg elskar deg (Nynorsk)

Polish (Poland, USA, Germany, United Kingdom, Belarus, western Ukraine, Lithuania)

Kocham cię

Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil, Angola, Cape Verde, Mozambique, São Tomé and Príncipe, Timor-Leste)

Eu te amo

Quechua (Peru and Bolivia)

Kuyayki

Russian (Russia, Mongolia)

Ya lyublyu tebya

Somali (Somalia, Ethiopia, Kenya, Djibouti, and Yemen)

Waan ku jeclahay

Spanish (Hispanic America, Spain, United States, Equatorial Guinea, Western Sahara, Pacific islands)

Te quiero (more like ‘I like you’ or ‘I feel affection for you’, a weaker sentiment)

Te amo (the more literal translation, a stronger sentiment)

Swahili (Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda)

Mimi nakupenda

Swedish (Sweden and Finland)

Jag älskar dig

Thai (Thailand)

P̄hm rạk khuṇn (male speaker)

Chan rug khun (female speaker)

Turkish (Turkey, Cyprus, Bulgaria)

Seni seviyorum

Ukrainian (Ukraine)

Ya tebe lyublyu

Urdu (India, Pakistan)

Mein ap say muhabat karta hoon (man)

Mein ap say muhabat karti hoon (woman)

Vietnamese (Vietnam)

Anh yêu em

Welsh (Wales, England, Argentina, Canada, United States)

‘Rwy’n dy garu

Zulu (South Africa)

Ngiyakuthanda

Just imagine this Valentine’s Day or anniversary gift: a beautiful album of you and your loved one wrapped in a paper scribbled with all these ways of saying “I love you.” What can I say? Perhaps I’m too much of a romantic, but I’d like that gift. As for how to use this priceless knowledge in other ways, the possibilities are endless. Be creative, and have a happy Valentine’s/anniversary/regular day!

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