80 Spanish Love Words Every Romantic Should Know [Guide]

You might have all the confidence in the world when you're chatting someone up at a bar back home, but the second you try to be charming in Spanish, suddenly you're fumbling for words like a nervous teenager. Sounds familiar?

In this guide, I'll walk you through 57+ Spanish love words and phrases that'll help you express affection, flirt with confidence, and maybe even write a love letter that doesn't sound like it came from Google Translate. Whether you're trying to impress a Spanish-speaking crush or just want to understand what people mean when they call you "mi cielo," you'll find everything you need right here.

How To Express Love In Spanish

Spanish has a reputation for being romantic, and honestly? It lives up to the hype. The language gives you options English doesn't have, which means you can be way more specific about the type of love you're expressing. That's the good part. The tricky part is that this specificity can trip you up if you don't know what you're saying.

Let's start with the two big ones: te quiero and te amo.

Te Quiero vs. Te Amo

In English, "I love you" covers everything from your feelings about pizza to your feelings about your soulmate. Spanish splits this into two distinct phrases, and mixing them up can be awkward.

Te quiero translates to "I love you," but it's softer. Think of it as "I care about you deeply" or "I have strong feelings for you." You can say this to your romantic partner, sure, but also to close friends and family. It's warm and affectionate without being intense.

Te amo, on the other hand, is the real deal. This is reserved for deep, romantic love—the kind you feel for a life partner or spouse. Saying te amo to someone you've been dating for three weeks will probably freak them out. It's not casual. It's a declaration.

Most Spanish speakers will tell you they said te quiero to their partner for months (sometimes years) before dropping the first te amo. That's how seriously people take it.

Other Ways to Say "I Love You"

If you want to express affection without using either of those phrases, you've got options:

• Me gustas – "I like you" (romantically). This is perfect for early-stage flirting when you're not ready to drop the L-word.
• Me encantas – "I really like you" or "I'm crazy about you." Stronger than me gustas, but not quite love territory.
• Estoy enamorado/a de ti – "I'm in love with you." This is serious, but it focuses on the state of being in love rather than declaring love itself.
• Te adoro – "I adore you." Sweet and romantic, but lighter than te amo.

Spanish Love Words

If you want to sound affectionate in Spanish, you need to go beyond the standard "I love you" phrases. Spanish speakers use terms of endearment constantly in texts, during conversations, even when they're a little annoyed with you. These words are the bread and butter of romantic communication, and knowing them will make you sound natural.

The words in this section work across different relationship stages and contexts. Some are universal across the Spanish-speaking world, while others might get you weird looks in certain countries. I'll point out the regional differences where they matter.

Basic Terms of Endearment In Spanish

These are your everyday words for showing affection. Spanish speakers use them liberally—much more than English speakers use "honey" or "sweetheart." You'll hear these in grocery stores, text messages, and casual conversations. They're versatile enough to use with romantic partners, close friends, or even family members depending on the context.

Spanish Words for Relationship Stages

Knowing how to talk about your relationship status matters. Spanish gives you options depending on how serious things are, and the words you choose send clear signals about your commitment level.

Passionate and Intense Spanish Love Words

Sometimes basic affection isn't enough. When you're feeling intense emotions or want to express deep desire, Spanish has vocabulary that goes beyond the everyday terms of endearment. These words carry weight, and they're meant for moments when you really want someone to know how you feel.

Spanish Words And Phrases for Flirting

Flirting in Spanish is an art form, and the language gives you plenty of tools to be playful, charming, or downright bold. The key is matching your approach to the situation—what works in a bar in Barcelona might fall flat in a formal setting in Mexico City. These phrases range from sweet compliments to cheeky one-liners that show interest without being too serious.

These are your go-to phrases when you want to show interest, make someone smile, or test the waters. Some are classic, some are cheesy, and some are genuinely smooth.

Learn These Words the Way Native Speakers Actually Use Them

Reading a list of Spanish love words is one thing. Actually hearing them in real conversations? That's how you learn to use them without sounding like a textbook. My most recommended resource for this? Try Lingopie!

Lingopie lets you watch Spanish shows and movies where people actually flirt, fight, and fall in love—so you can catch the tone, the timing, and the context that makes these words work. Pause on the good lines, save the phrases you want to steal, and learn the way native speakers actually talk.

Stop guessing if you're using mi amor too soon or if te amo is too much. Watch real people say it with Lingopie, then go say it yourself.

FAQ

How to say I love you in Spanish?

Use te quiero for most situations since it means "I love you" and works for partners, close friends, and family. Save te amo for serious romantic relationships only, since it's much more intense and implies deep, committed love. If you're just starting to date someone, stick with me gustas (I like you) or me encantas (I really like you) instead.

How to respond to I love you in Spanish?

The safest response is to match what they said: reply yo también te quiero (I love you too) if they said te quiero, or yo también te amo if they said te amo. If you're not ready to say it back, you can say me haces muy feliz (you make me very happy) or eso significa mucho para mí (that means a lot to me).

What's the difference between te quiero and te amo?

Te quiero is affectionate love you can say to anyone you care about deeply—partners, friends, family. Te amo is reserved for deep romantic love, the kind you feel for a spouse or life partner.

How do you say "my love" in Spanish?

Mi amor is the most common way to say "my love" and works in any Spanish-speaking country. It's versatile enough to use with romantic partners at any relationship stage. You can also use amor by itself as a term of endearment, like calling someone "love" in English.

How do you flirt in Spanish?

Start with simple compliments like eres muy guapo/guapa (you're very handsome/beautiful) or me encanta tu sonrisa (I love your smile). If you want to show interest, say me gustas (I like you) or me encantaría conocerte mejor (I'd love to get to know you better). Read the room and match their energy—don't go too intense too fast.