Valentine’s Day is quickly approaching, and if there is one thing you need to be prepared for on February 14, it is to say “I love you.” Whether your special someone does not speak the same language as you do, and you want to make sure you get your point across, or you simply want to impress your beloved on this romantic day by giving them a world tour of this beautiful sentiment, here is how to say “I love you” in 70 languages.
Photo: Gustavo Frazao/Shutterstock
How to Say ‘I Love You’ in 68 Countries
Africa
Ethiopia: In Ethiopia, you would say, ewedihale lehu (ē wĕd hä′ lō) to a man and ewedishale hu (ē wĕd shä′ lō) to a woman, according to the Amharic language.
Ghana: Show your love and appreciation for a Ghanaian by saying, Me dor wo (mē dō wū).
Malawi: The language spoken in Malawi and Zimbabwe is Chichewa. “I love you” in Chichewa is Ndimakukondani (nn-dĭ mä kŭ kōn dä).
Lesotho: In Sesotho, the local language in Lesotho, “I love you” is kea u rata.
South Africa: Multiple languages are spoken in South Africa. In Afrikaans, you would say Ek het jou lief to a romantic partner and Ek is lief vir jou to a friend. In Xhosa, “I love you” is Ndiyakuthanda, which slightly differs from Zulu where the expression is Ngiyakuthanda.
Sudan: In Sudan, “I love you” is Abdi bogoh ka anjeun.
Asia
Armenian: Express your love in Armenia by saying Yes kez sirumen.
Azerbaijan: In the local language of Azeri, “I love you” is Men seni sevirem.
Bangladesh: Bangladesh, where Bengali is spoken, expresses love by saying Amio tomake bhalobashi.
Cambodia: In Cambodian, you’d say Soro lahn nhee ah.
China: In Mandarin, “I love you” is wŏ ài nĭ.
Indonesia: In Indonesia, the expression for love is Aku cinta kamu.
Israel: “I love you” in Hebrew is Ani ohevet otchah to a man and Ani ohev otach to a woman.
The Philippines: If you find yourself in the Philippines over Valentine’s day, say Mahal kita.
Japan: The expression meaning “I love you” in Japanese is aishiteru.
Laos: In Lao, the language spoken in Laos, you’d say Khoi hak jao.
Malaysia: In Malay, “I love you” is Saya cinta pada mu.
Mongolia: Mongolians say “I love you” to each other using Bi chamd hairtai.
South Korea: In Korean, the expression for “I love you” is Sarang hae.
Thailand: Thai has two different expressions for men and women. To a man, you would say Chan rak khun, and Phom rak khun to a woman.
Turkey: In Turkey, “I love you” is Seni seviyorum.
Vietnam: In Vietnam, you’d say Em yeˆu anh to a man, and Anh yeˆu em to a woman.
Uzbekistan: The expression meaning “I love you” in Uzbek is Men seni sevaman.
Oceania
Fiji: In the island nation of Fiji, “I love you” is Au lomani iko.
Guam: According to the Chamorro language of Guam, “I love you” is Huguaiya hao.
Hawaii: In Hawaii, the expression to use this Valentine’s Day is Aloha wau iâ `oe.
New Zealand: Besides English, which is spoken in New Zealand, the Maori language is still used by the indigenous population.“I love you” in Maori is Kei te aroha au i a koe.
Samoa: Samoan people express love by saying Ou te alofa ia te oe.
Europe
Albania: Say “I love you” in Albania by using Të dua.
Belarus: In Belarusian, “I love you” is Ya tabe kahayu.
Bulgaria: Should one be in Bulgaria for Valentine’s Day, they’d say, Obicham te.
Czech Republic: In Czech, “I love you” is miluji tě.
Croatia: “I love you” in Croatian is: Volim te.
Denmark: The Danish say Jeg Elsker Dig as an expression of their love.
Estonia: Say “I love you” in Estonia by using Ma armastan sind.
France: The French use, Je t’aime.
Finland: In Finnish, say Minä rakastan sinua.
Germany: Tell a German you love them by saying. Ich liebe dich.
Greece: In Greek, “I love you” is Σε αγαπώ, pronounced “Se agapó̱.”
Hungary: The expression meaning “I love you” in Hungarian is Szeretlek.
Iceland: In Icelandic, you’d say Eg Elska Tig.
Ireland: In Irish Gaelic, “I love you” is Gráim thú (graw-im hoo).
Italy: In Italian, “I love you” is Ti amo.
Latvia: The Latvians use Es tevi milu.
Lithuania: In Lithuanian, you’d say, Tave myliu.
Maltese: The Maltese say Jien inhobbok.
Netherlands: In Dutch, “I love you” is Ik hou van jou.
North Macedonian: In North Macedonia, they say, Te sakam.
Poland: In Polish, “I love you” is kocham ciebe.
Portugal: In Portuguese, you’d say, Amo te.
Romania: In Romania, say, Te lubesc.
Russia: “I love you” in Russian is Ya tebya liubliu.
Scotland: In Scottish Gaelic, the expression meaning “I love you” is Ttha gra dh agam ort. When expressing deep care, Scottish Gaelic speakers say Tha gaol agam ort.
Spain: Spain has various languages depending on the region. In Northern Spain where Basque is spoken, “I love you” is Maite zaitut, while in Catalan, spoken in Barcelona and the Catalonia region, you’d say T’estimo. In Castellano, often referred to as “Spanish,” you’d say Te amo.
Slovakia: In Slovak, say ľúbim ťa.
Slovenia: In Slovenian, the expression for love is ljubim te.
Sweden: In Swedish, “I love you” is Jag alskar dig.
Ukraine: In Ukranian, say Ya tebe kaha yu.
Wales: In Welsh, “I love you” is Rwy’n dy garu di (roo-in dū garry dee).
North America
United States: Besides the official language, English, some of the native people of North America speak Cheyenne. The language is a part of the Algonquian family, which was predominant in today’s Montana and Oklahoma. In Cheyenne, “I love you” is Nemehotatse.
Mexico: I love you in the Spanish used in Mexico is Te quiero.
South America
Argentina, Paraguay: In Guaraní, which is one of the native languages of Argentina and Paraguay, “I love you” is Rojhayhû.
Bolivia: In Aymara, one of Bolivia’s native languages, “I love you” is Munsmawa.
Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador: In these three countries, Quechua is an indigenous language that was spoken before the Spanish conquest. In Quechua, “I love you” is Kuyayki when it’s meant as a romantic sentiment and Munayki if you love someone as a friend.
Brazil: In Brazillian Portuguese, you’d say Eu te amo. 