Romantic Spanish Phrases for Dating
The first romantic Spanish phrases to learn are me gustas (meh GOOS-tahs, I like you) and te quiero (teh KYEH-roh, I love you). Add mi amor (mee ah-MOR, my love) once you are a couple. Below are 32 phrases in seven groups, in the order a relationship goes: from the first hello to dinner with the family. Notes show where Spain and Latin America differ.
Romantic Spanish Phrases for Dating
Teaches 32 romantic Spanish phrases for dating, from the first hello and a first coffee to texts, I love you and dinner with the family. Notes show where Spain and Latin America say it differently.
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Start Talking
| Spanish | Pronunciation | Meaning | Listen |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hola, ¿cómo te llamas? | OH-lah, KOH-moh teh YAH-mahs | Hi, what's your name? A friendly, casual way to start talking to someone your age. Works in Spain and Latin America. | |
| Me encanta hablar contigo. | meh en-KAHN-tah ah-BLAR kohn-TEE-goh | I really enjoy talking with you. Warm but not too forward. Good once a conversation is going well. | |
| ¿Tienes pareja? | TYEH-nes pah-REH-hah | Do you have a partner? A polite way to ask if someone is single. It avoids the gender ending you need in ¿Estás soltero? (to a man) or ¿Estás soltera? (to a woman). | |
| No, no tengo pareja. | noh, noh TEN-goh pah-REH-hah | No, I don't have a partner. What you hear when the answer to ¿Tienes pareja? is that they are single. | |
| Sí, tengo pareja. | see, TEN-goh pah-REH-hah | I have a partner. What you hear when they are not single. A polite no: thank them and change the subject. You may also hear Tengo novio (I have a boyfriend) or Tengo novia (I have a girlfriend). |
Compliment
| Spanish | Pronunciation | Meaning | Listen |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tienes una sonrisa preciosa. | TYEH-nes OO-nah sohn-REE-sah preh-THYOH-sah (Latin America: preh-SYOH-sah) | You have a beautiful smile. The adjective agrees with sonrisa, so it is the same said to anyone. Preciosa is very common in Spain. In Latin America, hermosa or linda is more usual. | |
| Tienes unos ojos muy bonitos. | TYEH-nes OO-nohs OH-hohs mwee boh-NEE-tohs | You have really pretty eyes. A gentle compliment that is fine on a first meeting. Works the same in Spain and Latin America. | |
| Me haces reír un montón. | meh AH-thes reh-EER oon mohn-TOHN (Latin America: AH-ses) | You make me laugh a lot. Un montón is everyday Spanish for a lot; mucho works too. There is no gender ending to get right. | |
| Estás de broma, ¿no? | es-TAHS deh BROH-mah, noh | You're kidding, right? Light teasing when they say something hard to believe. Friendly in tone, not rude. | |
| Gracias, eres muy amable. | GRAH-thyahs, EH-res mwee ah-MAH-bleh (Latin America: GRAH-syahs) | Thank you, that's very kind of you. A natural reply when someone compliments you. Amable has no gender ending. |
Ask Them Out
| Spanish | Pronunciation | Meaning | Listen |
|---|---|---|---|
| ¿Me das tu número? | meh dahs too NOO-meh-roh | Can I have your number? Casual and common in Spain and Latin America. Many people now swap Instagram or WhatsApp instead. | |
| ¿Te apetece tomar un café conmigo? | teh ah-peh-TEH-theh toh-MAR oon kah-FEH kohn-MEE-goh (Latin America: ah-peh-TEH-seh) | Would you like to have a coffee with me? A low-pressure first invitation, the way it is said in Spain. In Latin America, say ¿Te gustaría tomar un café conmigo? | |
| Me encantaría. | meh en-kahn-tah-REE-ah | I'd love to. What you hear when they say yes to an invitation. | |
| Quizás otro día. | kee-THAHS OH-troh DEE-ah (Latin America: kee-SAHS) | Maybe another day. What you hear as a soft no. Often it means not interested, so do not push. |
Plan the Date
| Spanish | Pronunciation | Meaning | Listen |
|---|---|---|---|
| ¿Qué tal el viernes a las ocho? | keh tahl el BYEHR-nes ah lahs OH-choh | How about Friday at eight? Suggest a day and a time. Swap in any day: el sábado (Saturday), el domingo (Sunday). | |
| El viernes no puedo, ¿mejor el sábado? | el BYEHR-nes noh PWEH-doh, meh-HOR el SAH-bah-doh | I can't on Friday, how about Saturday instead? What you hear when they suggest another day. It is a yes to the date, not a no. |
Text After the Date
| Spanish | Pronunciation | Meaning | Listen |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lo pasé genial contigo. | loh pah-SEH heh-NYAHL kohn-TEE-goh | I had a great time with you. Send it after the date. In Spain, people also say Lo he pasado genial on the same day. In much of Latin America, you will hear La pasé muy bien. | |
| Estoy pensando en ti. | es-TOY pen-SAHN-doh en tee | I'm thinking about you. A sweet text that is fine early on. | |
| Te echo de menos. | teh EH-choh deh MEH-nohs | I miss you. The usual way to say it in Spain. | |
| Te extraño. | teh eks-TRAH-nyoh | I miss you. The usual way to say it in Latin America. Spain speakers understand it but usually say Te echo de menos. | |
| Buenas noches, que descanses. | BWEH-nahs NOH-ches, keh des-KAHN-ses | Good night, sleep well. A sweet way to end the day by text. Que descanses literally means rest well. | |
| Lo siento, ha sido un malentendido. | loh SYEN-toh, ah SEE-doh oon mah-len-ten-DEE-doh | I'm sorry, it was a misunderstanding. Use it to clear the air after a mix-up. In Latin America, say Lo siento, fue un malentendido. |
Show Affection at the Right Level
| Spanish | Pronunciation | Meaning | Listen |
|---|---|---|---|
| Me gustas. | meh GOOS-tahs | I like you, in a romantic way. The safe early step before any form of I love you. Do not mix it up with Me caes bien, which means I like you as a person. | |
| Te quiero. | teh KYEH-roh | I love you. The normal thing to say to a partner in Spain. Everywhere it is also said to family and close friends, so in Latin America it can feel lighter than Te amo. | |
| Te amo. | teh AH-moh | I love you, the deeper level. In Latin America it is common between serious partners. In Spain it sounds very intense, so most couples say Te quiero instead. | |
| mi amor | mee ah-MOR | my love. The most common pet name for a partner in Spain and Latin America. In parts of Latin America, older people and shop staff also say it to strangers to be friendly. | |
| cariño | kah-REE-nyoh | sweetheart, darling. Very common between partners in Spain. Also used in Latin America, and parents say it to children. | |
| ¿Qué somos? | keh SOH-mohs | What are we? The usual way to ask where the relationship stands. |
Meet Their Family
| Spanish | Pronunciation | Meaning | Listen |
|---|---|---|---|
| Buenas tardes, señora. | BWEH-nahs TAR-des, seh-NYOH-rah | Good afternoon, ma'am. A polite first greeting for your partner's mother; to a father, say señor. In Spain many families switch to tú right away, so follow their lead. In much of Latin America, usted is the safer start. | |
| Gracias por invitarme. | GRAH-thyahs por een-bee-TAR-meh (Latin America: GRAH-syahs) | Thank you for having me. Say it when you arrive or when you leave. | |
| Gracias por la comida, estaba todo riquísimo. | GRAH-thyahs por lah koh-MEE-dah, es-TAH-bah TOH-doh ree-KEE-see-moh (Latin America: GRAH-syahs) | Thank you for the meal, everything was delicious. Riquísimo is the everyday word for very tasty and is used across the Spanish-speaking world. | |
| Estás en tu casa. | es-TAHS en too KAH-sah | Make yourself at home. What you hear from the family when you arrive. A warm welcome. Reply with Gracias, muy amable. |
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between te quiero and te amo?
Both mean I love you. In Spain, te quiero is what couples say, and te amo sounds very intense. Te quiero is also said to family and friends, so in Latin America te amo is the stronger one between partners. Me gustas comes before both and means I like you.
What do Spanish speakers call their partner?
Mi amor (my love) is one of the most common pet names everywhere. Cariño (sweetheart) is very common in Spain. Mi vida (my life) and cielo (sky, darling) are also widely used.
Should I use tú or usted with my partner's parents?
In Spain many families use tú from the start. In much of Latin America, start with usted, the formal you, and señor or señora. Either way, follow their lead.
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