The Many Ways of Saying I love You
Written by Chloe Crawford, Former Student on Friday, February 19, 2016
I love you. Even though Valentine’s Day has passed, there is never a wrong time to spread a little love. We as a whole say I love you so casually these days. Maybe it’s thrown out after a week long relationship of middle-school puppy love, or maybe you hear it every day before you go to school from your family. No matter who you hear it from, those three little words can mean a variety of things, but their initial meaning boils down to the fact that you are cared for, appreciated, wanted, and loved by someone. Here are ways to say I love you from cultures of the world as well as actions that different people in cultures use to express appreciation and love.
Spanish-“Te amo.” This phrase does translate into “I love you," but is more commonly used in literature, and is often more intimate. A phrase more familiar to the Spanish culture would be, “Te quiero”, which can be said to anyone of your choosing, including a parent, sibling, or spouse.
French- “Je t'aime.” French is known as the language of love, and is categorized as one of the most romantic language of the world. If one wanted to get even more personal and throw in, “my darling”, you could follow up with “mon Cherie” for a man, or “ma Cherie” for a woman. The full phrase would be, “Je t’aime ma/mon Cherie”.
Chinese- 我爱你 [wǒ ài nǐ] This phrase literally translates into “I love you”, slightly differentiating from Spanish and French where there are other ways to say it. This phrase is popular among the dating culture in China and as many Asian cultures are stereo typically known for upholding a strict household, is said to not be used too widely among family members of the household.
No matter when 'I love you' is used, it’s the thought that counts and the meaning behind the relationship it is being said within that makes it a special phrase.
