Different Ways to Express Love in French: A Comprehensive Guide

Whether you stumbled on this post because you're in love, daydreaming about a romantic trip to Paris, or just curious about how to say "I love you" in French... you're in the right place.

French is often called the language of love, but expressing love in French goes far beyond just knowing how to say je t’aime. In fact, if you're hoping to win the heart of a French speaker, simply repeating that one phrase might not get you very far.

In this article, we’ll explore not just how to say “I love you” in French, but when to say it, how not to say it, and what other expressions and gestures are used in France to express deep affection.

Why is France considered so romantic?

From candlelit dinners in Montmartre to the poetic melancholy of old chanson songs, France has built its reputation as a romantic destination over centuries.

This romantic image has roots in history, literature, and even politics. Think of the love letters of Napoleon Bonaparte to Joséphine, or the existentialist romances of Simone de Beauvoir and Jean-Paul Sartre. Paris, often called la ville de l’amour

(the city of love), is seen worldwide as a symbol of intimacy and passion.

French culture places a high value on sensuality, subtlety, and emotional depth in relationships.

And that brings us to the most iconic expression of all…

“Je t'aime:” The ultimate romantic phrase

Je t'aime

, the classic phrase. If you've studied French at all—or, perhaps, even if you haven't—you've likely learned these three words.

The bulk of this article will focus on other expressions of love, but we'd be remiss not to pay this one homage.

Let's do it!

Origin, grammar and pronunciation of “je t'aime”

Let’s start with the basics.

Je t’aime is the standard way to say “I love you” in French... But unlike in English, where “I love you” might be said frequently to friends, pets, or even your favorite pizza:

Here’s a quick breakdown of its grammar:

Pronunciation tip: Je t’aime is pronounced /ʒə tɛm/, like “zhuh tem.”

The phrase has become iconic in French music and cinema.

As an aside, if you ever doubt about how to conjugate “aimer,” just think of Francis Cabrel's popular song:

This simple phrase captures the depth and timelessness that love holds in French. But beware—just because it’s short doesn’t mean it’s said lightly.

French declarations of love

In many cultures, saying “I love you” is said quite casually—something you can utter early on in a relationship, or perhaps even among friends.

Saying je t’aime to someone you're dating marks a turning point—it’s the moment where you’re acknowledging deep emotional investment. It can feel vulnerable and brave.

This caution around words of love is beautifully expressed in the song Message Personnel by Françoise Hardy:

This line reflects the fear and hesitation that accompanies emotional vulnerability in French relationships.

Because of this, written forms of je t’aime—like text messages—can sometimes feel easier and less intimidating. In casual texts, it’s often abbreviated to JTM, pronounced "jee-tee-ehm.”

Even in a casual text, though, the phrase is still heavy.

Beware of superlatives!

Here’s a trap that trips up many learners: trying to intensify je t’aime

by adding beaucoup (“very much”) in an attempt to say “I love you very much.” While this is perfectly logical in English, it has the opposite effect in French!

If you want to express stronger romantic feelings, try these instead:

These variations still carry the romantic weight of the original, but turn up the intensity—without sounding like you’re talking to your best friend.

⚠️ French's “aimer” isn't as versatile as English's “love”

In English, “love” is used for everything from people to pizza. You might say “I love this movie” or “I love summer” without thinking twice.

Not so in French.

Aimer is usually reserved for expressing love toward people. When it comes to things, experiences, or animals, you’re more likely to use adorer

, aimer bien , or kiffer (slang) instead.

Using “aimer” for things means more “to like” than to love.

Here’s a quick comparison:

Other Ways to Express Your Love in French

You're now up to speed on je t'aime, the classic.

Here's a few other things you can tell people!

Other ways to say "I love you"

Sometimes, je t’aime just doesn't hit quite right—especially if you’re early in a relationship, flirting, or want to say something a little more playful or poetic.

In such cases, here are some alternatives you can take for a spin:

For fun, you can learn how to say "I love you to death" with Shakira's French and Spanish rendition of “Je l’aime à mourir,” a classic French love song:

Other Romantic French Phrases

Romantic feelings often come with poetic or playful vocabulary in French. Here are some phrases and idioms to keep in your love language toolkit:

French Terms of Endearment

French also has a treasure trove of affectionate nicknames. Some are sweet, some are silly, and others are uniquely French.

These words are also used to show affection in a non-romantic way with friends or children. Use them wisely and don’t be surprised if your French partner has a unique pet name just for you.

Beyond Words: Gestures and Actions to Express Affection in France

In France, love isn’t always about what you say—it’s about how you show it. Actions speak louder than words, right?

French people are often more reserved with words but expressive through gestures and shared experiences. Many express their romantic love by bringing breakfast in bed, paying the bill at a restaurant, offering flowers… Some places also have a romantic connotation, such as cinemas, a walk near the river, or a coffee in Montmartre.

Whether you're just beginning to learn the language or already dreaming in beautiful French, knowing how to express love can help you understand the culture more deeply—and maybe even win someone’s heart along the way.

How to learn how French people *actually* address their loved ones

One of the hard things about learning a language is that, unfortunately, you don't know what you don't know. Nevermind French itself as a language—it's also an entirely different culture, and French speakers often don't use the same words we do to describe a particular thing.

... for example, say you were reading some random blog post, and these guys claim that, in French, the "cute" way to refer to your sweetie is to call them your flea.

You're skeptical. Naturally.

... but then you're watching some YouTube video in French, and you see a father refer to his young daughter as his flea—ma puce.

And then, the algorithm seemingly locks onto this one line of dialogue, and you see ma puce directed at romantic partners and pets.

Apparently it's a thing!

So you tap that orange button in the top-right corner of the dictionary entry to make a flashcard straight from the video, ensuring you'll remember to call your sweetie "my flea" next time.

And that's how you learn French—naturally, almost without effort, largely as a byproduct of enjoying yourself.

(Editor's note: Migaku is not responsible for the consequences if you mix up languages and refer to your sweetie as your flea in English.)

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Now that you know how to show your love and affection in French...

So, there you go! Now you know how to say I love you in French.

What we want to leave you with is that, in French as in love, quality time is what moves the ball forward.

Anyway—now that you know a few sweet French words, how about learing a few vulgar ones?

Bonne chance, ma puce. 💪 🪳