What is the difference between te amo and te quiero? Compare and contrast the definitions and English translations of te amo and te quiero on SpanishDictionary.com, the world's most accurate Spanish-English reference website. When it comes to te amo vs te quiero, what exactly is the difference? Believe it or not, it can be tricky to translate terms of affection in some languages. In Spanish, there are different expressions that mean, "I love you," each falling on a different spot of the love spectrum. Family New relationship Someone you have feelings for Te amo Serious romantic partner Close family members When to Use Te Quiero Te quiero in English would be like the mild version of "I love you", and is also not as romantically charged as te amo, so we usually use it when we want to say that we care about someone. Who to use te quiero with: Each phrase makes a difference in the level of intensity of the affection or the love you express to a person or an object. To avoid uncomfortable confusion, here's a little advice: Te amo: Use it with your significant other. Te quiero: Fits everybody and everything else. vVHG.