How to Say I Love You in French: 17 Romantic Expressions

The Short Answer

The most direct way to say I love you in French is Je t'aime (zhuh TEM). But unlike in American English, where "I love you" flows freely between friends, family, and romantic partners, the French treat Je t'aime as a serious declaration. It carries weight, and French speakers use it deliberately.

French is spoken by approximately 321 million people across 29 countries, according to the Organisation internationale de la Francophonie (OIF). Across that enormous range, the language of love remains remarkably consistent: Je t'aime means the same thing in Paris, Montréal, Dakar, and Brussels. What varies is the rich ecosystem of expressions around it: the terms of endearment, the lighter alternatives for friends, and the poetic flourishes that have made French the world's most iconic language of romance.

"In French, Je t'aime is not a phrase one scatters lightly. It is a commitment, a declaration that changes the nature of a relationship. The weight of the words demands sincerity."

(Geneviève-Dominique de Salins, Politesse, savoir-vivre et relations sociales, 2002)

This guide covers 17 essential French love expressions organized by category: romantic love, terms of endearment, friendship and family, formal and poetic, and regional variations. Each one includes pronunciation, cultural context, and an example sentence so you know exactly when and how to use it.

Quick Reference: French Love Expressions at a Glance

Romantic Love

These are the core expressions reserved for romantic partners. In French culture, romantic declarations carry more gravity than in many English-speaking countries. According to linguist Geneviève-Dominique de Salins, the French approach to expressing love reflects a broader cultural emphasis on sincerity over frequency.

Je t'aime

Je t'aime is the single most important phrase in this guide. It combines je (I), te (you, contracted to t'), and aime (love, from the verb aimer). The pronunciation is simpler than many French phrases ("zhuh TEM"), with the "zh" sounding like the "s" in "pleasure."

The cultural weight of Je t'aime cannot be overstated. Where an American couple might say "love you" while heading out the door, a French couple treats the phrase with more ceremony. Saying Je t'aime for the first time in a relationship is a milestone, signaling genuine commitment, not just affection. Many French people report waiting weeks or months into a relationship before saying it.

Je t'adore

Je t'adore is paradoxically both more expressive and less serious than Je t'aime. It expresses intense affection, admiration, and warmth, but it does not carry the same declaration-of-love weight. You can tell a close friend Je t'adore without any romantic implication. Between romantic partners, it works as an enthusiastic complement to Je t'aime, something you might say after a thoughtful gesture.

Je suis amoureux / Je suis amoureuse

This phrase describes the state of being in love rather than making a direct declaration. A man says Je suis amoureux and a woman says Je suis amoureuse, with the pronunciation differing on the final syllable (-RUH vs. -RUHZ). It is commonly used when confiding in a friend: Je crois que je suis amoureux (I think I'm in love).

To direct it at someone specifically, add de toi (of you): Je suis amoureux de toi. This is a romantic confession, though slightly less direct than Je t'aime.

Le coup de foudre

The French do not simply "fall in love at first sight." They are struck by lightning. Le coup de foudre literally means "the bolt of lightning," and the Académie française traces its figurative romantic use to the 18th century. The metaphor captures the sudden, overwhelming, almost violent nature of instant attraction.

You will hear this expression in everyday conversation, not just literature. Someone recounting how they met their partner might say Ça a été le coup de foudre (It was love at first sight). It can also be used lightheartedly about objects: J'ai eu un coup de foudre pour cet appartement (I fell in love with this apartment).

Terms of Endearment

French speakers use terms of endearment daily with romantic partners and often with children. These are the words that earned French its reputation as the language of love.

Mon amour

Mon amour is the quintessential French term of endearment, the one you will hear most often between couples. Unlike the English "my love," which can sound old-fashioned or overly formal, Mon amour remains the standard, everyday way French couples address each other. Note that mon (masculine) is used regardless of the partner's gender because amour is a masculine noun.

Mon cœur

Mon cœur is among the most intimate French terms of endearment. The œ ligature in cœur represents a uniquely French vowel: position your lips as if saying "oh" but produce an "uh" sound. Parents also use mon cœur with young children, giving it a dual association with both romantic and parental tenderness.

Ma chérie / Mon chéri

Chéri(e) comes from the verb chérir (to cherish) and has become one of the most internationally recognized French words. Ma chérie addresses a woman, Mon chéri addresses a man. The pronunciation is identical except for the article (mah vs. mohn).

Beyond couples, grandparents often use mon chéri / ma chérie with grandchildren. It has also entered English as a borrowed term, though English speakers often mispronounce it as "SHEH-ree" instead of the correct "shay-REE."

Mon trésor

Mon trésor expresses that someone is precious and irreplaceable. It is especially popular between parents and young children, and a mother calling her child mon trésor is a classic French image. Between partners, it conveys deep appreciation and tenderness.

Ma moitié

Ma moitié (my half) is used to refer to one's romantic partner, echoing the idea (traced back to Plato's Symposium) that lovers are two halves of a whole. It is commonly used when introducing a partner: Je vous présente ma moitié (Let me introduce my other half). The expression balances warmth with a touch of humor.

Bisou

Bisou is the everyday French word for a light, affectionate kiss. It is smaller and gentler than baiser (which has shifted to a vulgar meaning in modern French, so be careful with that one). Bisous (plural) is one of the most common text message sign-offs among friends, family, and partners alike.

Friendship and Family Love

French distinguishes sharply between romantic love and platonic affection. These expressions let you show warmth to friends and family without romantic implications.

Je t'aime bien

This is the expression that trips up every French learner. In English, adding "a lot" or "well" to "I love you" intensifies it. In French, the opposite happens. Je t'aime bien means "I like you" or "I'm fond of you." It is a step down from Je t'aime, not a step up. Hearing Je t'aime bien when you were hoping for Je t'aime is one of the most dreaded moments in French dating.

This quirk exists because aimer in French covers both "to love" and "to like." Adding bien disambiguates toward the lighter meaning. The distinction is crucial and frequently tested in the real world.

Tu me manques

The structure of Tu me manques reveals something philosophically interesting about French. In English, "I miss you" puts the speaker as the active subject. In French, Tu me manques makes the absent person the subject: "You are missing from me." The person who is gone acts upon the one who remains. This reversed construction often strikes learners as more poetic and emotionally accurate.

For family members, it works naturally: Maman, tu me manques (Mom, I miss you). Add tellement for emphasis: Tu me manques tellement (I miss you so much).

Tu es tout pour moi

This is one of the most powerful things you can say to someone in French. Tu es tout pour moi is not a daily expression. It is reserved for moments of genuine emotional depth. A parent might say it to a child, or a partner after overcoming hardship together. Its rarity is part of its power.

Formal and Poetic Expressions

French literature and formal language offer elevated expressions of love that you will encounter in poetry, songs, and film.

Mon âme sœur

Âme sœur literally translates to "sister soul." Âme (soul) is feminine in French, so sœur (sister) agrees grammatically, regardless of whether you are describing a man or woman. The expression carries a spiritual, almost mystical quality that ma moitié lacks.

Je suis fou de toi / Je suis folle de toi

Fou/folle de toi captures the madness of infatuation. A man says Je suis fou de toi, a woman says Je suis folle de toi. It is more passionate and less measured than Je t'aime, expressing the overwhelming, slightly irrational quality of deep attraction.

Tu me rends heureux / heureuse

Sometimes the most powerful expressions of love are the simplest. Tu me rends heureux/heureuse does not declare love directly but acknowledges the happiness someone brings into your life. It is gendered to match the speaker: a man says heureux, a woman says heureuse.

Regional Variations: France vs. Québec

While Je t'aime is universal across the francophone world, the vocabulary around it shifts between regions. Québécois French, with its distinct history and English-language influence, has developed unique romantic terminology.

Ma blonde

One of the most distinctive features of Québécois French: ma blonde means "my girlfriend" regardless of the woman's actual hair color. A brunette, a redhead, or a woman with black hair is still ma blonde in Québec. The male equivalent is mon chum (from English "chum"), meaning "my boyfriend."

In Metropolitan France, blonde only describes hair color, and chum is not used at all. This creates genuine confusion when Québécois and Metropolitan French speakers discuss their relationships.

Mon chum

Mon chum is the Québécois counterpart to ma blonde. It means "my boyfriend" and is used in everyday conversation throughout Québec. The word entered Québécois French from English but has been fully naturalized, following French pronunciation patterns (TCHUM, not CHUM as in English) and takes French articles.

How to Respond to French Love Expressions

Knowing how to respond is just as important as knowing what to say. Here is a guide to the most common exchanges.

Responses to Romantic Declarations

Responses to Terms of Endearment

Practice With Real French Content

Reading about love expressions is a good foundation, but hearing them spoken naturally, with authentic intonation, emotion, and context, is what makes them stick. French cinema is perhaps the best resource for this. Films like Amélie showcase playful Parisian romance, Amour explores love in its most profound form, and Les Parapluies de Cherbourg delivers every line as song.

Wordy lets you watch French films and shows with interactive subtitles. When you hear Je t'aime or Mon cœur in a scene, you can tap the phrase to see its meaning, pronunciation, and cultural context instantly. Instead of memorizing expressions from a list, you absorb them from real emotional moments with authentic delivery.

For more French content, explore our blog for guides including the best movies to learn French. You can also visit our French learning page to start practicing with real French dialogue today.