SCS language instructors share how to express love in 7 languages.
According to Hallmark, Valentine’s Day is the second-largest holiday for sending greeting cards. In case you need some inspiration for what to write to your loved ones, this Valentine’s Day we’ve asked some of our language instructors to share how people express love with different words and customs around the world. Here’s what they shared with us.
French
In French “je t’aime” means “I Love you”, “je t’adore” means “I adore you”, “tu es l’amour de ma vie” means “you’re the love of my life”, and “je suis fou amoureux de toi” means “I’m madly in love with you.”
“Mon chou” literally means “my cabbage” but it is used as a term of endearment like “my dear” in French.
People express their love much more freely in France than in North America, says SCS French instructor Andrew Furegato. “They do something called ‘la bise,’ which consists of kissing each other on the cheek upon greeting a person,” he says. “In some regions of France, it is done twice (one kiss for each cheek) and in others thrice, even four times. Each region has its own particular style.”
Japanese
In Japanese, “「すっごく好き！」” or “Suggoku suki!” means “I really like you,” while “「愛してる。」”or “Aishiteru” means “I love you.”
“「私と付き合ってください」” or “Watashi to tsukiatte kudasai” translates to “please go out with me.”
According to SCS Japanese instructors Yoko Galloway, Yasuyo Tomita and Akiko Maruoka, the exchange of sweets for Valentine’s Day is spread out over February and March.
“On Valentine’s Day in Japan, women usually give chocolates and sweets to men; this includes sweets to colleagues and bosses (obligatory chocolate), and friends in general,” explains Galloway. “Then there’s so-called “White Day” a month after Valentine’s Day, on March 14th, when men return women's affection by giving them sweets or presents.”
German
“Ich liebe dich” means “I love you” in German. “Ich mag dich wirklich” means “I really like you” and “Ich bin verrückt nach dir” translates to “I’m crazy for you.”
In Germany, Valentine's Day is still a relatively recent custom, says SCS German instructor Zoia Novikova. “It was introduced by US soldiers stationed here,” she explains. “Red roses and Valentine's cards are among the most popular Valentine's gifts among lovers in this country. Sweets are also very popular and an invitation to a restaurant with a candlelight dinner is not uncommon.”
Italian
“Ti amo” means “I love you” and is specifically used to indicate romantic love.
“Ti voglio bene” also means “I love you” but can be used for platonic relationships. “It is said between two people who are friends or family members,” explains Italian instructor Lorenzo Sclocco, “but also between two people who are starting to develop feelings.”
“Mi piaci un sacco” is a way to tell someone you like them a lot and literally translates to “I like you a sack,” while “Ci tengo a te” directly translates to “I keep you” and is used to tell someone they are special to you.
Usually for Valentines Day in Italy, people give each other chocolate, especially Baci Perugina (the pralines), says Sclocco.
Turkish
“Seni Seviyorum” is how you say “I love you” to friends, family, and romantic partners alike in Turkish.
“A common endearment phrase would be ‘canım’ which means “my life” and is also used very commonly for romantic, platonic and within close family relationships,” says Turkish instructor Özen Vekiloglu.
Dutch
“Ik hou van jou” means “I love you” in Dutch.
There's also “I am fond of you” or “ik ben dol op je”; “I am mad about you” or “ik ben (stapel)gek op je”. “Stapel” means “pile”, says Dutch instructor Marianne Verheyen. “Think a pile of pancakes!”
While Valentine’s Day is not a traditional Dutch holiday, it is slowly gaining ground, Verheyen says, and customs around love and romance tend to be part of folklore and history. For example, on the island of Marken in The Netherlands, hopeful fisherman grooms would create intricately-carved clogs for their brides while they were away at sea.
Latin and Ancient Greek
In Latin, “tē amō” means “I love you.” The Latin verb amāre can be translated as like or love.
In Ancient Greek “ἐρῶ σοῦ” means romantic love (Eros was the Greek equivalent to the Roman god Cupid). “σε φιλῶ” indicates deep friendship or brotherly love, and “ἀγαπῶ σε” means a selfless love for all people (“ἀγάπη” was translated in the Latin of the Vulgate as “caritas,” which became the English word “charity”).
Latin and Ancient Greek instructor Mary McBride shares that Roman wedding rings were typically made of Iron, as this metal symbolized strength and permanence. “The Romans believed that a nerve ran from the fourth finger or ring finger on the left hand directly to the heart, so wedding rings were worn on that finger as they still are in Italy today,” she says.
Roman poet Catullus wrote :
dā mī bāsia mīlle, deinde centum
dein mīlle altera, dein secunda centum
or
“Give me a thousand kisses, then another hundred,
then another thousand, then a second hundred.”
Want to learn to express love (or anything else) in a new language? Our expert instructors can help you meet your goals in over 20 languages.