How To Say “I Love You” in French to Family, Friends, and Romantic Partners

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There is no doubt that French is the language of love. There are many situations where you’ll want to say “I love you” in French—to a friend, to family, or to a romantic partner. Learning French can be fun, and Rosetta Stone can help you better communicate your loving feelings! 

Different ways to say “I love you” in French

There are many ways to say “I love you” in French, depending on who you are saying it to. Although not said as often as Americans may be used to, it is still used to express affection with everyone from your romantic partner to your grandmother.

Je t’aime (I love you)

Almost as simple as how to say “hello” in French, the most common way to say “I love you” in French is je t’aime. Although the common French verb aimer can also mean “to like,” it translates to “love” when used with a person. 

• Je t’aime. = I love you.
• J’aime le chocolat. = I like chocolate.

The object pronoun te (t’) is the singular and informal “you.” The te changes to t’ because it is followed by a vowel. Use je t’aime to say “I love you” to one person at a time.

Je vous aime (I love you all)

In certain situations, you may need to use je vous aime instead of je t’aime to say “I love you.” The object pronoun vous (“you,” plural) indicates that you are speaking to multiple people. 

Note: French-speaking people may use vous with family members who are older than they are, especially grandparents. This varies from family to family and is simply used as a form of respect.

Je t’aime bien (I like you as a friend)

Whether you’re simply not ready to commit or want to tell your friends how much you love them, there are a couple of ways to say “I love you” in French without expressing romantic love. Of course, you can still use je t’aime if you think there will not be any confusion to your meaning!

The most common way in French to say “I love you” to your friends is je t’aime bien. By adding the adverb bien (well), this signifies that you are not interested romantically. This could also be translated as “I like you as a friend.” 

Je t’adore (I adore you)

Another other way to express love to friends is to use je t’adore (I adore you). Although “adore” is a stronger verb in English, in French, it implies that the person is a friend. The verb adorer (to adore) can also be used with French nouns other than people, usually inanimate objects or animals:

• Je t’adore. = I adore you (as a friend).
• J’adore mon livre. = I love my book.
• Il adore son chien. = He loves his dog.

Other ways to express romantic love in French

Beyond knowing how to say “I love you” in French, there are many expressions you can use that convey the same romantic message. 

Amoureux / amoureuse (in love)

To say “to fall in love” in French, use the expression tomber amoureux (masculine) or amoureuse (feminine) followed by de + the person. 

To expressly say “I’ve fallen in love with you,” use the past tense (passé composé):

• Je suis tombé amoureux de toi. = I’ve fallen in love with you (masculine).
• Je suis tombée amoureuse de toi. = I’ve fallen in love with you (feminine).

To simply state you are in love with someone, use je suis (I am) instead of je suis tombé(e) (I’ve fallen):

• Je suis amoureux de toi. = I am in love with you (masculine).
• Je suis amoureuse de toi. = I am in love with you (feminine).

Romantic terms of endearment in French

Just as in English, there are many terms of endearment used to express romantic love in French. Below you will find a few of the most common terms of endearment to use romantically:

It is important to note that, in French, the word for “my” (mon/ma) agrees in gender with the noun directly following it, regardless of the gender of the person you’re addressing. According to French gender rules, some words have a masculine or feminine form, such as chéri(e) (dear). Additionally, the words for handsome/beautiful (beau/belle) in French vary depending on gender, so those will agree with the gender of the person you’re addressing.

Words to measure your love in French

You’ve probably heard of the game played with flower petals called “he loves me, he loves me not.” In French, this is called effeuiller la marguerite (to pluck the petals off the daisy). In this version, there are five options for how much the object of your affection loves you:

You can also say “I will love you forever,” in a couple of ways:

• Je t’aime pour toujours. = I will love you forever.
• Je t’aimerai toujours. = I will love you forever.

These two expressions are slightly different grammatically (one uses the French present tense and the other uses the French future tense), but they essentially mean the same thing. You can use them interchangeably to express your endless love.

Romantic places in Paris to say “I love you”

When many people think of the most romantic place on Earth, they think of Paris. There are endless places in the city of love where you can say “I love you” in French. And before you go, brush up on some French phrases for travel!

La Tour Eiffel (The Eiffel Tower)

There are many romantic ways to enjoy the iconic Eiffel Tower. Go at night to enjoy the sparkling lights of the Eiffel Tower. Visit the Champ-de-Mars park behind the tower—it’s free, open to the public, and a perfect place to pack a romantic picnic. 

There are also several Eiffel Tower restaurants and bars in the monument itself. There are two sit-down restaurants to choose from and some more casual on-the-go options. But the most romantic setting is arguably the champagne bar located at the very top!

Montmartre

Saunter through the Montmartre district for a classic romantic experience in Paris. Montmartre is located in the northern part of Paris in the 18th arrondissement (borough). There are many restaurants, cafés, and shops to peruse.

Pack a romantic picnic lunch and sit on the lawn in front of the Sacré Cœur basilica, then enjoy the panoramic views of Paris as you say “I love you” in French.

Le mur des je t’aime (the wall of “I love you’s”)

While you’re in Montmartre, be sure to visit Le mur des je t’aime (the wall of I love you’s). This monument is dedicated to love and peace and has the phrase “I love you” written in over 250 languages.

Les ponts de Paris (the bridges of Paris)

Another quintessential romantic experience in Paris is to traverse its bridges. Perhaps the most famous bridge is Pont Alexandre III, known for its majestic decorations and views of Paris. 

You can’t go wrong on many of the bridges in Paris as you work your way through the city. Don’t be tempted to put a “love lock” on any of them, however, as the city has worked to ban this practice (it is not good for the structure of the bridges).

Say “I love you” in French with confidence and ease

Express your love with confidence by learning French with Rosetta Stone! Understanding the nuances and contexts in any situation, especially one as important as saying “I love you,” is essential in any language. 

Build confidence and speak French with ease using Rosetta Stone’s Dynamic Immersion method. Immersing yourself in the language and culture is the best way to learn about French love. Rosetta Stone allows you to learn French naturally without memorization to help you better prepare for your next romantic trip to Paris!