How to express LOVE in Italian

How to Say TO LOVE in Italian 

Jim asks: ” How do we express LOVE in Italian? OR… How do I choose between AMARE and VOLERE BENE? “

For loving PEOPLE

Here's how we express love in Italian:

• AMARE is between lovers only
• VOLERE BENE is between family and friends

▷ SOME EXAMPLES

SARA TI AMO, MI VUOI SPOSARE?
Sara, I love you! Will you marry me?

NON TI AMO PIÙ, VOGLIO IL DIVORZIO
I don't love you anymore… I want divorce!

MAMMA, TI VOGLIO BENE
Mom, I love you!

IO VOGLIO BENE A TUTTI I MIEI AMICI
I love all my friends!

MI VUOI BENE?
Do you love me?

For loving things..

• PIACERE
• ADORARE
• AMARE

MI PIACE MOLTO BALLARE
I love dance

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How about when you “love” things?

Mainly three options:

• PIACERE
• ADORARE
• AMARE

In most cases, you should be using the verb PIACERE (“to like“) (highly irregular verb – see note below for a quick explanation) followed by some sort of modifier that would amplify your “liking”. For examples:

MOLTO = a lot
MOLTISSIMO = really a lot
TANTO = a lot
TANTISSIMO = really a lot
UN CASINO = a ton (slang)

To say “I love to dance” we might say:

Mi piace molto ballare
Mi piace moltissimo ballare
Mi piace un casino ballare (slang)

I know this might not satisfy you (“I'm trying to say LOVE, not LIKE“) but that's how a native Italian would express that concept most of the time!