How to say I love you in 10 languages

Love is complicated. In an increasingly connected world, people from all over the globe are coming together and falling in love. However, when you find that one person that makes your heart skip a beat, there are often some barriers to overcome.

Language, for starters, can be a big barrier (although love does conquer all!). To help, here’s how to say I love you in 10 languages  (and some more words of affection in a couple of the biggest ones):

1. French

I love you – Je t’aime

A few more words of affection: Sweetie – Cheri (male) Cherie (female) or Ma puce (literally means my flea, no joke!)

2. Italian

I love you – Ti voglio bene/Ti amo

A few more words of affection: Dear – Caro (male) Cara (female).  If someone tells you, “sei una ragazza di acqua e sapone,” it translates to: “you are a girl of water and soap,” and means that you have that girl-next-door look.

3. Spanish

I love you – Te quiero/Te amo

A few more words of affection: Sweetheart – Corazon (literally means “heart”), sugarcube – Terron de azucar  (because what better way to tell someone they’re sweet than literally calling them sugar?)

4. Portuguese

I love you – Eu te amo

A few more words of affection: Beloved – Querido or chuchu (sweetie – literally means “chayote,” a type of vegetable). Que saudade – No direct English translations (yup, one of those). You say it when you desperately miss something or someone, to the point of heartache. You can say “Que saudade!” when remembering a childhood pet, or your love that is on the other side of the planet. Many Brazilians end their e-mails with “Saudades” which is their way of telling you that they’re missing you. Sweet, no?

5. Turkish

I love you – Seni seviyorum

6. Albanian

I love you – Te dua

7. Afrikaans

I love you – Ek het jou liefe or Ek is lief vir jou

8. Mandarin

I love you – Wo ai ni

9. Greek

I love you – S’agapo

10. Arabic

I love you – Ana behibak (to male) Ana behibek (to female)