There are nearly unlimited ways to express love. You can say “I love you” with your hands using the ASL hand sign. In fact, there’s a way to say “I love you” in every language.
You might also express your love through your actions by catering to your partner’s love language, which could be quality time, words of affirmation, physical touch, acts of service, or giving and receiving gifts.
American Sign Language
Did you know there is a love hand sign that allows you to say “I love you” in American Sign Language, or ASL? You can make the love hand gesture by holding your middle finger and ring finger towards your palm while extending your thumb, index finger, and pinky finger. Then, direct your hand towards your loved one.
While the “I love you” hand sign has its origins in American Sign Language, you don’t have to be deaf or hard of hearing to use it. The love hand sign has entered the mainstream, and many learn it from friends, school, or sign language courses.
French
In French, “Je t’aime” means “I love you.” Many people view French as a beautiful and romantic language. This preconception may come from the idea of Paris being a place where love is in the air; it’s often referred to as “the city of love.”
Vietnamese
The Vietnamese language has two ways of saying “I love you.” Yêu is often used for romantic love, while thương describes deep platonic or familial love. The pronouns used can also affect meaning, as Vietnamese uses kinship pronouns that change depending on whom you’re speaking to. For example, a husband may say “Anh yêu em” to his wife, while a child would say “Em thương bà” to his grandmother.
Arabic
You can say “ana bahebak” to express your love in Arabic. Roughly 420 million people speak Arabic globally, and it’s spoken in most Arab nations. In general, languages use particular inflections and tones to communicate feelings and authentic emotions. The words “I love you” or “ana bahebak” can express romantic love or love for friends and family.
Greek
In Greek, you can communicate your love for someone by saying, “Se agapó.” In ancient Greek philosophy, Socrates looked at the idea of love. Many poets, philosophers, and writers existed in ancient Greece, and they were often fascinated with love and how it could shape the world. Though love as a concept may constantly be evolving, many people during that time likely expressed feelings you may relate to today.
Italian
“Ti amo” is how you say “I love you” in Italian. Italian is a romance language that stems from Latin. Other romance languages include, but aren’t limited to, French, Spanish, Portuguese, and Romanian.
Hebrew
In Hebrew, you can say, “Ani ohev otakh,” to tell someone you love them. This expression of love dates back to the Old Testament, in which various people said these words. Many biblical references mention a feeling of warmth inside your chest and a pure expression of how you feel about someone when discussing love.