Being able to tell someone ‘I Love You’ is a big moment in any relationship with friends, family, or a significant other. It can be an even bigger moment when it happens to be in a foreign language that is not your own.

Getting those 3 little words out (or more or less depending on the language) can be a challenge even when you are a native speaker. It can even be more difficult when you are wooing someone from another country.

Regardless of whether you want to spice up how you let your loved one know you care or you plan on sharing your feelings with a foreign girl/guy, we’ll share how to say I love you in Spanish, French, and more.
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How to Say I Love You in Spanish, French, and more

French: Je t’aime

What could be more romantic than speaking to a potential love interest in French? Romance languages like French, Spanish, and Italian tend to put the direct object (the ‘you’ part of ‘I love you’) before the verb.

Anyway, it’s the perfect thing to say while sipping on a café on honeymoon with your new beau. It may just be your most useful French phrase moving forward.
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Spanish: Te amo

Saying “te amo” is a big step in any Spanish relationship. There are dozens of other ways to show affection, but this is the one that shows how much you truly care. Check out other Spanish phrases that you should know.

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Italian: Ti amo

Only one letter off from Spanish, use this translation with foresight. Italians only declare this phrase to lovers and foodstuffs—so be cautious before you tell this to someone you just met on the street.

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German: Ich liebe dich

It might take a special kind of person to find this German saying as romantic, but over a beer or two, it might sound better and better.

Arabic: ‘ahbak

Speaking in Arabic can become a little complicated depending on whether you are talking to a girl or boy, but this translation offers a shorthand when you just can’t help but share how you feel.

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Portuguese: Eu te amo

While not too different from fellow romance languages, there is a difference between the Portuguese you speak in Portugal and the one you use in Brazil.
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Japanese: Ai shiteru yo

There are so many various ways to say ‘I love you’ in Japanese, but this one will get your point across and encourage a meeting over some sushi.

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Dutch: Ik hou van je

A bike ride just outside Amsterdam along with a nice picnic can end in this Dutch saying.

Swedish: Jag älskar dig

This can be a great way to connect with a Swede on your trip to Stockholm. Just make sure not to use it across the border in Norway!

Irish: Is breá liom tú

This Irish saying literally translates as “my heart is within you.” How could you not fall in love if someone said this to you?

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Danish: Je elsker dig

The good news? If you already know Swedish, it’s not a huge leap to learn the Danish version. Goes to show how connected these two language actually are.

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Turkish: Seni seviyorum

The Turkish language is full of love. This is only one way (the basic version) of how to let someone know how much he or she means to you.

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Hebrew: Ani ohevet otcha (female to male), ani ohev otach (male to female), ani ohevet otach (female to female), ani ohev otcha (male to male)

Hebrew changes slightly depending on who you are talking to. Try and make sure you are talking to the right person—though most will be willing to forgive you if you become confused!

Polish: Kocham Cie

Kiss your loved one on the cheek and let them know how much of a part of your life he or she is. Great for the Polish grandparents at family events.

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Welsh: Rwy’n dy garu di

As one of the most difficult languages to learn, Welsh does not make saying ‘I love you’ easy. However, think of how impressed your loved one will be when you spout this out seamlessly.

Vietnamese: Anh yêu em (male to female), em yêu anh (woman to man), tôi yêu bạn (friend to friend)

Before you mutter some sweet words, remember that age also plays a part in which translation you use when speaking to others. Whether the person you addressing is older or younger, you’ll want to use a different translation.

Hungarian: Szeretlek

After sitting down with some friends and goulash, you might want to tell them exactly how happy you are being there sharing a meal.

Greek: Se agapó

The Greeks are famous for their many types of love and how it can mean different things in different contexts. If you just want to let someone else know that you care, this is the best version to use.

Cantonese: Ngóh oi néih

Remember that you would use Cantonese in other parts of China. Once you know for sure that you are using it in the correct place, this is one way to remind someone how important they are to you.

Ukrainian: Ya tebe lyublyu

The Ukrainian people might not be known for being the most romantic, but that doesn’t mean you can’t express how you feel in this complicated and interesting language.

Swahili: Nakupenda

The continent of Africa is home to some of the most complex languages—as well as a large variety. When in Kenya, Swahili is the one you should choose to say ‘I love you’ in.

Romanian: Te iubesc

With a Latin base, you might notice some similarities between Romanian and its Western European counterparts. The pronunciation might be a little more difficult, though—make sure to practice!

Hindi: Main tumse pyar kartha hoon (male), main tumse pyar karthee hoon (female)

Don’t be afraid to use this saying among the many people you love. This works for siblings, friends, parents, and all the other people who add meaning to your life.

Mandarin: Wǒ ài nǐ

In other parts of China, you will have to use Mandarin Chinese instead of Cantonese. Regardless, the meaning is the same: ‘I love you.’

Korean: Sarang hae

This is the informal way to address a companion or family member. While you might not be telling others you don’t know very well how much you love them, make sure to use the more formal version if you do (sarang-hamnida).

Thai: P̄hm rạk khuṇ

The Thai people are some of the friendliest and kindest in the world. It makes sense that they would say I love you from various levels. However, this is the translation you will usually find.

Uzbek: Men seni Sevaman

Spoken by more of the world than you would think (27 million), Uzbek is a Turkish-based language with flavors from various parts around the world including Russia and Mongolia.

Khmer: Khnhom sralanh anak

Khmer is the language spoken in Cambodia, and it also follows rules relating to gender and age. Before you bare your heart, make sure to find the right variation for whom you want to proclaim your love to.

We hope this guide to saying I love you in Spanish, French, and other languages helped you. Send this to someone you care about so you can share the love together!