# How to say "I love you" in Esperanto

Source: https://esperantopedia.org/phrases/i-love-you/
Language: en
Updated: 2026-10-07

> Mi amas vin (mi A-mas vin) means "I love you" in Esperanto. Variations, pet names like karulo, compliments, proposals and the joke Edzperanto.

"I love you" in Esperanto is ***Mi amas vin*** – pronounced *mi A-mas vin*. *Mi* is "I", *amas* is "love" in the present tense, and *vin* is "you" with the object ending *-n*. The same phrase works for a partner, a child, a parent or a friend, and for one person or several, because *vi* means both singular and plural "you".

## Ways to say "I love you"

Pronunciation guides split words into syllables; the stressed syllable is in capitals.

| Esperanto | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| *Mi amas vin.* | mi A-mas vin | I love you. |
| *Mi ankaŭ amas vin.* | mi AN-kaŭ A-mas vin | I love you too. |
| *Mi tre amas vin.* | mi tre A-mas vin | I love you very much. |
| *Mi amegas vin.* | mi a-ME-gas vin | I love you so much. (*-eg-* makes it stronger) |
| *Mi ŝatas vin.* | mi ŜA-tas vin | I like you. |
| *Mi enamiĝis al vi.* | mi en-a-MI-ĝis al vi | I've fallen in love with you. |
| *Mi amos vin ĉiam.* | mi A-mos vin ĈI-am | I will always love you. |
| *Vi mankas al mi.* | vi MAN-kas al mi | I miss you. (literally "you are missing to me") |
| *Mi sopiras al vi.* | mi so-PI-ras al vi | I long for you. |
| *Vi estas la amo de mia vivo.* | vi ES-tas la A-mo de MI-a VI-vo | You are the love of my life. |

Word building does much of the work. From the root *am-* "love" come *amo* "love (noun)", *ami* "to love", *amato / amatino* "beloved (man / woman)", *amiko* "friend", *enamiĝi* "to fall in love" and *amindumi* "to court, to flirt". The suffix *-eg-* makes a word stronger, and *-et-* makes it smaller or gentler. See [suffixes](https://esperantopedia.org/grammar/suffixes/).

## Pet names and terms of endearment

| Esperanto | English |
|---|---|
| *kara / mia kara* | dear / my dear |
| *karulo / karulino* | darling (to a man / to a woman) |
| *koro, koreto* | heart, little heart (sweetheart) |
| *trezoro, trezoreto* | treasure, little treasure |
| *amato / amatino* | beloved |
| *anĝeleto* | little angel |
| *kateto* | kitten |
| *koramiko / koramikino* | boyfriend / girlfriend (*koramiko* is also used for a partner of any gender) |
| *fianĉo / fianĉino* | fiancé / fiancée |
| *edzo / edzino* | husband / wife |

The suffix *-in-* marks a woman, and *-et-* adds affection: *kara* "dear" → *karulo* "dear one" → *karuleto* "little darling". Speakers freely invent more names in the same way.

## Compliments

| Esperanto | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| *Vi estas bela.* | vi ES-tas BE-la | You are beautiful. |
| *Vi estas belega!* | vi ES-tas be-LE-ga | You are gorgeous! |
| *Vi estas ĉarma.* | vi ES-tas ĈAR-ma | You are charming. |
| *Vi havas belajn okulojn.* | vi HA-vas BE-lajn o-KU-lojn | You have beautiful eyes. |
| *Vi ridetigas min.* | vi ri-de-TI-gas min | You make me smile. |
| *Mi estas feliĉa kun vi.* | mi ES-tas fe-LI-ĉa kun vi | I'm happy with you. |

Notice the endings: adjectives agree with their noun, so *belajn okulojn* has *-j* (plural) and *-n* (object) on both words. More on [nouns and adjectives](https://esperantopedia.org/grammar/nouns-adjectives/).

## Dates, proposals and wishes

| Esperanto | English |
|---|---|
| *Ĉu vi volas trinki kafon kun mi?* | Would you like to have a coffee with me? |
| *Ĉu vi havas koramikon / koramikinon?* | Do you have a boyfriend / girlfriend? |
| *Kisu min!* | Kiss me! |
| *Mi volas brakumi vin.* | I want to hug you. |
| *Ĉu vi volas edziniĝi kun mi?* | Will you marry me? (to a woman) |
| *Ĉu vi volas edziĝi kun mi?* | Will you marry me? (to a man) |
| *Ni geedziĝu!* | Let's get married! |
| *Feliĉan datrevenon!* | Happy anniversary! |
| *Kisojn kaj brakumojn!* | Kisses and hugs! (end of a message) |

Marriage verbs show how Esperanto handles gender. *Edziĝi* means "to become a husband", *edziniĝi* "to become a wife", and *geedziĝi* "to marry each other" – the prefix *ge-* means "of both sexes". The dictionary ReVo gives examples with both *kun* and *al* after these verbs.

## Esperanto and love: "Edzperanto"

Esperantists joke that their language is ***Edzperanto*** – a blend of *edzo* "husband" and *peranto* "go-between". The pun appeared in 1923 in a poem by Raymond Schwartz, about two friends looking for husbands. It caught on because many couples did meet through Esperanto: as early as the 1930s, Esperantists collected reports of dozens of international marriages that began through letters or congresses.

Some of these couples raised their children in Esperanto. Researchers estimate about **1,000 families with around 2,000 native-speaking children** (2004). In most such families, though, the parents share a native language; in many others Esperanto is the only language the parents have in common. More on [native speakers of Esperanto](https://esperantopedia.org/about/native-speakers/).

## Common questions

### How do you say "I love you" in Esperanto?

*Mi amas vin* (mi A-mas vin). To say "I love you too", add *ankaŭ*: *Mi ankaŭ amas vin*.

### What is the difference between "Mi amas vin" and "Mi ŝatas vin"?

*Ami* is "to love" and *ŝati* is "to like". Use *Mi ŝatas vin* for a friend or a new crush, and *Mi amas vin* for deep affection.

### How do you say "my love" in Esperanto?

*Mia amo* – "my love" – or *mia kara*, "my dear". For a sweetheart, *karulo* (man) and *karulino* (woman) are common.

### How do you say "I miss you" in Esperanto?

*Vi mankas al mi* – literally "you are missing to me". *Mi sopiras al vi* – "I long for you" – is stronger.

### Is "Mi amas vin" the same for a man and a woman?

Yes. Esperanto pronouns and verbs do not change for gender, so *Mi amas vin* is the same whoever says it and to whomever.

## Sources

- [Wiktionary: mi amas vin](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/mi_amas_vin)
- [Wiktionary: karulo](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/karulo), [koramiko](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/koramiko), [enamiĝi](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/enami%C4%9Di), [sopiri](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/sopiri), [edziĝi](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/edzi%C4%9Di)
- [ReVo: edzo, edziĝi, edziniĝi, geedziĝi](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/edz.html)
- [Vikipedio: Edzperanto](https://eo.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edzperanto)
- [Vikipedio: Internaciaj geedziĝoj esperantistaj](https://eo.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internaciaj_geedzi%C4%9Doj_esperantistaj)
- [Wikipedia: Native Esperanto speakers](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Native_Esperanto_speakers)
- [PMEG: Personaj pronomoj](https://bertilow.com/pmeg/gramatiko/pronomoj/personaj.html)