How Do You Say I Love You In Italian

Ah -- Italian -- the quintessential language of love. If you're only looking for the short answer to this article's question, the simple, languorous ti amo is the answer you're looking for -- but why not make your research a little more personalized and productive with this little guide? Give me a minute of your time and I'll turn the inner pigeon into a resplendent, romantic eagle!

This article will list a series of romantic additions and personal touches to this infamous declaration of affection, as well as outline how and when they are used (in Italy, the world love is thrown around quite liberally, and not all I love you's denote the same thing).

Let's start with some basics and work our way from there.

• Ti amo - I love you. Short and thunderously direct.
• Ti adoro - I adore you.
• Ti voglio - I want you. In very much the carnal sense if you catch my drift.
• Ti voglio bene - Literally -- I wish you well, but is most often used to convey the "I care about you" line. It is frequently used between friends as well as people dating, but it is not quite as all encompassing and direct as an I love you.
• Ti amissimo - A cutesy spin on the classic I love you line. The addition of "issimo" equates to "a lot".
• Sei la mia vita - You're my life. You can get away with saying this kind of stuff in Italian (even with the most pragmatic of partners), superlatives are the way of love.
• Mi fai impazzire - You drive me crazy.
• Ho una cotta per te - I have a crush on you (cotta = crush).
• Sono tua/o - I'm yours. Ends with an "a" if you're a woman, or with an "o" if you're a guy.
• Mi piaci - I like you. Usually said with a smile!

Due to the fact that virtually every word in the Italian dictionary ends in a vowel the language is naturally very poetic. Similes then, are a popular cultural influence. In the English language you'll rarely find someone who takes the time to extemporize a thirty-second I love you. In Italian, I find, that it is far easier to accomplish without sounding outrageously over the top.

Here then, is a list of phrases I've either used myself (I am half-Italian and live in Rome, after all) or have heard utter. I've done my best to omit those that are on the other side of acceptable.

Ti amo come (I love you like...):

• ...I pesci amano l'aqua. - Like the fish love the sea (not a great one in my opinion, but common).
• ...se non avessi amato mai - As I've never loved before (literally, as if I'd never loved before).
• ... un fiume, libero ma sempre in movimento - Like a river, free but always in motion.
• ... un bambino - Being told you're loved as a child doesn't ring any emotion bells in English, but in Italian it connotes both wonder and freedom.
• ... te lo faccio capire? - How can I make you understand.
• ... Homer ama le ciambelle - Like Homer (simpson) loves his doughnuts. Alright, this one's a joke -- forgive me!

You can also say I love you in Italian by adding a few choice words after the common ti amo. My favorite are:

Ti amo...

• da impazzire - I love you so much I'm going crazy!
• alla follia - To insanity (and beyond!).
• da morire - to die for. This is very common (and for good reason -- it really strikes a chord but doesn't come across as morbid in Italian).
• davvero - I truly love you.
• vita mia - I love you my life (your partner being you life, not your life in general!).

I hope you enjoyed my short and concise guide. I have tried to keep it short and sweet due to the near impossibility of recalling all of these on the spot. There is no definite way of conveying affection in Italy, but the aforementioned phrases are commonly used. Feel free to invent your own, or suggest some on the comment section below! I would love to incorporate your ideas in the article as well.