30 Ways to Say ‘I love You’ in French (with Audio Pronunciation)

That three-word sentence is cliché, so I talked to my French roommates about alternative ways to say “I love you.” Two categories surface through the research: strong expressions for mature relationships that require creative ways to express their feelings, and softer ones for relationships that are too young for grandiose expressions of love.

Here’s a list of 30 different ways you can express your love for someone, in order of intensity. You will find translations, context tips, and examples to find out if the expression is right for your situation. I also provide feminine agreements in case you’re a girl saying this to a boy. Finally, there are two ways to say I love you to a friend, and they’re at the end of the article.

“Je t’aime” and other strong expressions

Meaning: I love you
Literal translation: I like you
Example: Je t’aime mon amour. | I love you my love.
Context tips: “Je t’aime” is a strong expression of love, so use it sparingly. It is not at all of part of French culture to use “i love you/it/her” in a casual way. On the other hand, this expression is only intense when the speaker or writer uses a pronoun. For example, if you said “J’aime mon professeur” (I like my professor), this would carry a positive but romantically neutral tone. However, if you said “Je l‘aime,” the feeling is overtly romantic.

Meaning: You are the love of my life
Literal translation: You are the love of my life
Example: Tu es l’amour de ma vie, ma chérie. | You are the love of my life, my dear.
Context tips: This is a powerful statement reserved for mature relationships.

Meaning: You are my reason for living
Literal translation: You are my reason to live
Example: Tu es ma raison de vivre dans ce monde pourri. | You are my reason to live in this spoiled world.
Context tips: This is another strong expression for mature relationships.

Meaning: You are my purpose
Literal translation: You are my reason for being
Example: Tu es ma raison d’être dans un monde sans sens. | You are my purpose in a world without sense.
Context tips: Another strong expression reserved for moments of intensity.

Meaning: I love you more each (passing) day
Literal translation: I like you each day more
Example: Comme l’arbre et son sol, je t’aime chaque jour davantage. | Like a tree and his soil, I love you more each passing day.
Context tips: This expression is even stronger than je t’aime. As the translation shows, it speaks of a feeling that grows stronger over time, which means their is some degree of consistency in the relationship. You’ll want to be careful using this one with any French natives, since it would be reserved for a couple in a deep, long term relationship. Some would say it’s reserved for engaged couples.

Meaning: I love you with all my heart
Literal translation: I like you from all my heart
Example: Je t’aime de tout mon coeur, qui n’est qu’une pompe simple sans ton amour. | I love you with all my heart, which is but a simple pump without your love.
Context tips: This is another strong one usually reserved for serious couples. It wouldn’t be uncommon to hear a parent use this expression with his/her child in an anglophone, and certainly American, setting. However, such use could be considered inappropriate in French. The sensibility is decidedly romantic.

Meaning: I love you more than yesterday, but less than tomorrow
Literal translation: I like you more than yesterday, but less than tomorrow
Example: Je t’aime plus qu’hier, mais moins que demain mon amour. | I love you more than yesterday, but less than tomorrow my love.
Context tips: This is a subtler way to affirm your care for the other person. It’s assured but not overbearing like some of the previous ones could be.

Meaning: I love you blindly
Literal translation: I love you with unreason
Example: Je t’aime de déraison. On s’en fou de nos parents! | I’m love you blindly. Who cares what our parents say!
Context tips: This one is almost Hollywood worthy. It really means “i love you with unreason,” which obviously means emotions are so powerful that they have overtaken the feeler’s ability to rationally think about the relationship. This expression feels like a Romeo & Juliet because it’s simply so emotional. Unless you’re in a very passion-driven, advanced relationship, be cautious with how you proceed.

Meaning: I can’t stop thinking about you
Literal translation: You are in all my thoughts
Example: Je n’arrive pas à te mettre loin de l’esprit. Tu es dans toutes mes pensées. | I can’t get you out of my mind. I can’t stop thinking about you.
Context tips: While I group this expression into the strong ones, it could be considered mild by some people. I think this expression depends heavily on tone and intonation. If you say it with a serious tone like I do in the sound bite above, the message can be very strong. On the other hand, if you say it playfully like a young couple might, it may be considered light.

Meaning: I’m head-over-heals for you
Literal translation: I love you lost-ly
Example: Je t’aime éperdument bien que je sois quelqu’un de logique. | I head-over-heals for you even though I’m very logical normally.
Context tips: This expression is outdated. Out of four of my French roommates, only two had heard and understood it. Use this like you would use an old English expression — sparingly.

Meaning: I have fallen in love with you
Literal translation: I had myself torn by love for you
Feminine: Je me suis amourachée de toi
Example: Je me suis amouraché de toi ma chérie. | I have fallen in love with you my dear.
Context tips: I had never heard this expression before my French roommates introduced it to me. Apparently it’s a very rare, formal way to announce love after a considerable amount of time spent with a romantic interest. It’s slightly outdated, and would usually come from a man to a woman with whom he had not be intimate.

Meaning: I’ve become enamored with you.
Literal translation: I had myself become enamored with you
Feminine: Je me suis entichée de toi
Example: Depuis qu’on s’est rencontré, je me suis entiché de toi. | From the moment we met, I’ve become enamored with you.
Context tips: This is a strong expression because it’s very vulnerable. Enamored does not necessarily mean love, but it is a strong emotion to express, and opens the speaker up to denial before the stage of love. This expression is rare.

Meaning: I fell in love with you
Literal translation: I had myself fall in love with you
Feminine: Je me suis éprise de toi
Example: Hier, j’ai su. Je me suis épris de toi. | Yesterday I realized it. I fell in love with you.
Context tips: This is a very stylistic way of saying you fell in love with someone. It’s not common, but it could pass for someone very passionate about French language.

Meaning: I feel passionately for you
Literal translation: I impassion myself for you
Example: Je me passionne pour toi. Tu es la dernière fille sur terre! | I feel passionately about you. You’re the last girl on earth!
Context tips: This expression is very literary. I would not say it unless you and the other person share a strong inclination toward romantic novels.

Meaning: I am in love with you
Literal translation: I am loving of you
Feminine: je suis amoureuse de toi
Example: Ma chérie, je suis amoureux de toi
Context tips: After “je t’aime,” this is the most common way to say I love you in French. It’s direct yet classy and adds variety to your vocabulary. If you only remember one entry from this list, it should be “je suis amoureux (-euse) de toi.

Meaning: I fell in love with you
Literal translation: I fell loving of you
Feminine: Je suis tombée amoureuse de toi
Example: Je suis tombé amoureux de toi. Dis que tu te sens pareil. | I fell in love with you. Say you feel the same.
Context tips: This one is very similar to it’s precedent, but it’s slightly less common and slightly more formal. Ultimately what you choose to use is a question of personal taste.

Meaning: My heart only beats for you
Literal translation: My heart only beats for you
Example: Mon coeur ne bat que pour toi, celle pour qui mon corps se reveille la nuit en manque. | My heart only beats for you, you for whom my body awakens at night missing.
Context tips: This is actually my top pick from the list. It strikes, in my opinion, the best balance between unique, sincere, and powerful. That said, it’s a very strong expression and should be reserved for special cases.

Meaning: Our hearts beat as one
Literal translation: Our hearts beat in unison
Example: Nos coeurs battent à l’unisson, et le mien ne bat que pour toi. | Our hearts beat as one, and mine only beats for you.
Context tips: This is a very sophisticated expression. My French roommates tell me that it only exists in movies now, so you’ll want to avoid it outside of poetry or literature.

Meaning: Your presence fills me with happiness
Literal translation: Your presence (figuratively) fills me up/saturates me with happiness
Example: Ta présence m’emplie de bonheur. Ton absence me vide d’espoir. | Your presence fills me with happiness. You absence take away all hope.
Context tips: This is another literary expression. You should proceed with caution before using this in person unless you’re trying to spice up a longterm relationship.

Meaning: I love you like crazy
Literal translation: I like you in a crazy way
Example: Je t’aime à la folie ma chérie! | I love you like crazy, my dear.
Context tips: This one is a little less serious. The word “folie” in French means craziness or wildness, and that feeling comes through in this expression. It’s certainly romantic, but you could get away with saying it before going to the strong “je t’aime.”

Meaning: I’m crazy about you
Literal translation: I am crazy of you
Feminine: Je suis folle de toi
Example: Je suis fou de toi ma chérie. | I’m crazy about you my dear.
Context tips: This is much softer than the previous expressions. Similarly to “je t’aime à la folie,” you could use this expression in a friendly way and romantic way. Your tone will determine the message.

Meaning: You fill me up
Literal translation: You fill me up (like a hole)
Example: Tu me combles le coeur. | You fill up my heart.
Context tips: You could use this expression to begin expressing serious emotions for someone.

Meaning: You complete me
Literal translation: You complete me
Example: Tu me complètes. Sans toi je ne suis que partiel. | You complete me. Without you I am but partial.
Context tips: Like “tu me combles,” you could use this expression to show a degree of affection beyond simple romance, but not quite at the point of love.

Medium intensity expressions

Meaning: I love (informal) you
Literal translation: I adore you
Example: Tu m’as ramené du chocolat. Je t’adore! | You brought me chocolate. I love you!
Context tips: This expression is the closest equivalent to the informal use of “love” in US culture. You can use it to say things like “I love that movie” or “I love your shirt.” On the other hand, said with the right tone, it could also signify something much more serious. Someone speaking like the sound bite above might be expressing a true feeling of love.

Meaning: I have feelings for you
Literal translation: You please me
Example: Tu me plais. Peut-on se revoir? | I have feelings for you. Can we see each other again?
Context tips: This expression is tricky because while it can be an informal way to express feelings for someone, it can also be emotionless. If someone pleases the speaker in a physical way only, then she/he might use this expression to say so. Again, tone is key here.

Weak expressions

Meaning: I have a crush on you
Literal translation: I have the liked feeling for you
Example: J’ai le béguin pour toi depuis première! | I’ve had a crush on you since senior year!
Context tips: Most French people would not use this expression in a first-person context. They would only refer to others having “le béguin,” similar to how English speakers do not often say they have a crush on someone.

Meaning: I’m you fan
Literal translation: I am a fan of you
Example: Je suis fan de toi. On devrait se voir plus souvent. | I’m a fan of yours. We should see each other more often.
Context tips: This expression has some personality, and not everyone can pull off saying it. An American expression might be “hey good looking.” It’s a special way of expressing feelings.

Meaning: I find you very attractive
Literal translation: I pinch some for you
Example: J’en pince pour toi. | I find you very attractive.
Context tips: This expression is very difficult to translate into English. I see it more as something you would say with your eyes than verbally. It essentially means that someone is attractive in the sense you want to get to know them better. You could use it in the intuitive cases.

Meaning: I have a crush on you
Literal translation: I have a weakness for you
Example: Je t’avoue que depuis quelque temps j’ai un faible pour toi. | I admit that I’ve had a crush on your for some time now.
Context tips: This expression is less common than “j’ai le béguin pour toi,” but it serves the same purpose. As with the former, you would not usually say this in first person. It serves mainly as a way to describe other peoples’ relationships.

Meaning: I have a crush on you
Literal translation: I am cracking for you
Example: On ne se connaît pas bien, mais je craque pour toi. | We don’t know each other that well, but I have a crush on you.
Context tips: This is the lightest of the “crush” expressions. You could use it in a joke with the right tone and get away with it.

How to say express feelings to friends

Meaning: I really like you
Literal translation: I like you a lot
Example: C’était une bonne soirée. Je t’aime beaucoup! | It was a great evening. I really like you!
Context tips: Though it may seem counterintuitive, adding “beaucoup” to “je t’aime” changes it entirely. There is no romantic sentiment to this expression. Use it with close friends.

Meaning: I like you
Literal translation: I like you well
Example: Oui je t’aime bien! | Yes I do like you!
Context tips: This is probably the most casual way to express positive feelings for an acquaintance. Use it as a way to express slightly positive relationships, but avoid using it to describe close relationships.

Conclusion

• Je t’aime
• Tu es l’amour de ma vie
• Tu es ma raison de vivre
• Tu es ma raison d’être
• Je t’aime chaque jour davantage
• Je t’aime de tout mon coeur
• Je t’aime plus qu’hier, mais moins que demain
• Je t’aime de déraison
• Tu es dans toutes mes pensées
• Je t’aime éperdument
• Je me suis amouraché de toi
• Je me suis entiché de toi
• Je me suis épris de toi
• Je me passionne pour toi
• Je suis amoureux de toi
• Je suis tombé amoureux de toi
• Mon coeur ne bat que pour toi (*Author’s choice*)
• Nos coeurs battent à l’unisson
• Ta présence m’emplie de bonheur
• Je t’aime à la folie
• Je suis fou de toi
• Tu me combles
• Tu me complètes
• Je t’adore
• Tu me plais
• J’ai le béguin pour toi
• Je suis fan de toi
• J’en pince pour toi
• J’ai un faible pour toi
• Je craque pour toi
• Je t’aime beaucoup
• Je t’aime bien