French is known as the language of love. As such, it is only fair that it has it’s fair share of love words. But which are the most romantic French phrases?
Even if you aren’t dating a Francophone yet, knowing a few French love words might come in handy. After all, French is one of the most spoken and easiest languages to learn!
Being able to use romantic French phrases is perhaps one of the most sophisticated things you can do. After all, French is one of the most sophisticated languages.
15. Je ne peux pas vivre sans toi
Je ne peux pas vivre sans toi is one of the best French love words in my opinion. It is used to tell your spouse exactly what they mean to you. Unlike many of the other romantic French phrases however, it is only used by married couples.
Je ne peux pas vivre sans toi translates to mean “I can’t live without you”. It is often used to tell your wife or your husband truly how much they mean to you. That is to say that you have become so close that you can’t imagine life apart.
However, the French are very traditional in most senses. A such, saying this to someone who is not your wife or your husband may cause some issues.
14. Je pense toujours à toi
Je pense toujours à toi is one of the most romantic French phrases I can think of! It is generally used to tell someone just how special they are to you and how much you love them.
Je pense toujours à toi translates to mean “I think about you everyday”. It is most commonly used to tell a crush that you like them, however, it is also used to tell someone you are already with (whether spouse or not) that you love them.
Traditionally speaking, je pense toujours à toi is used to tell a woman how much they mean to you as a wife or a girlfriend. However, as with many things, it can also be used to compliment a boyfriend or husband.
13. Je suis fou de toi
Je suis fou de toi is one of the most common French love words. It is often used to tell a crush how you feel about them, however it can be used during a relationship to tell your special someone just how much they mean to you.
Je suis fou de toi literally translates as “I am crazy about you” and is used in the same context as its literal translation.
With that being said, je suis fou de toi can be used in a more creepy way. If someone has rejected you and you continue to approach them with je suis fou de toi, let’s just say you might have some issues…
12. Je veux être avec toi
Je veux être avec toi is one of the best French love words out there. It is used in the context of telling someone that you like them, most notably telling a crush that you like him or her.
Je veux être avec toi translates as “I want to be with you” however is also translated to mean “I like you” in certain contexts.
With that being said, if you have approached the person before and they’ve rejected you, repeatedly approaching them with je veux être avec toi may see you in hot water.
11. J’adore ton sourire
If you’re on your second or third date, and you really want to make him or her feel special, you could tell your date j’adore ton sourire. In France and in most Francophonic countries, it is seen as some of the highest forms of flattery!
J’adore ton sourire translates as “I love your smile” and is used in the same context as its English counterpart is.
J’adore ton sourire is traditionally and more commonly used to compliment female dates, however, it can be used to compliment a male date. In fact, it is becoming one of the most used romantic French phrases to compliment male dates.
10. Je suis amoureux de vous
If you want to tell your crush that you like them, perhaps the best way to do it is to tell them je suis amoureux de vous. Je suis amoureux de vous translates as “I’m in love with you” and is used in the same context as its English translation.
Je suis amoureux de vous is considered to be one of the most romantic French love words, which is certainly self-explanatory!
Another way to say je suis amoureux de vous is je suis tombé d’amour de toi meaning “I have fallen in love with you”. It is used in the same context as je suis amoureux de vous and its English equivalent.
9. Je t’aime juste comme tu es
Je t’aime juste comme tu es is perhaps one of the the most romantic French phrases I can think of! Je t’aime juste comme tu es is common in France but not so much in Quebec, although it has entered limited use in Quebec in recent years.
Je t’aime juste comme tu es translates to mean “I love you just the way you are” or “I love you how you are”.
Often, je t’aime juste comme tu es is used in the context of telling someone you’ve been with for several years just how much you like them. Unlike many of the other French love words, it can be used to someone who is married to you or not!
8. Je t’aime chaque jour davantage
Je t’aime chaque jour davantage is one of the most romantic French phrases, no matter what language you’re speaking! Whilst the phrase hasn’t entered English as of yet, it has entered several other creole languages.
Je t’aime chaque jour davantage is quite romantic if I do say so myself. It literally translates as “I love you more everyday”.
Je t’aime chaque jour davantage is usually used in a cringy sort of way. It is often used by married couples no a special occasion be it a wedding, anniversary or birthday to tell the other one just how much they love their spouse.
7. Je t’adore
Je t’adore is perhaps one of the most widely used French love words. It literally translates as “I adore you” however is used in the same context as “I love you”.
Je t’adore is most commonly used by couples to make their love for one another clear. It is also used to express great happiness, used in a similar way to the 21st Century American expression “Marry me!” is used.
In French, je t’adore can be used in both an endearing way and in a romantic way. You can say je t’adore to your spouse or boyfriend/girlfriend but you can also say je t’adore to your parents or your children too.
6. Je t’aime
Je t’aime is perhaps one of the most romantic French phrases. In a romantic setting it is perhaps the most common phrase (or at least after #6 anyway).
Je t’aime translates as “I like you” and is interchangeable for #7 (je t’adore) to mean “I love you”. You can also use je t’aime bien which translates as “I like you a lot” or “I really like you”.
Just as with #7, je t’aime doesn’t just have to be used in a romantic way. It too can be used in an endearing way. You can use je t’aime for the love of your life but also to your parents or children too!
5. Veux-tu être mon petit(e)-ami(e)?
You’ve told your crush that you like them, perhaps telling them je t’aime or je t’adore and you’ve realized that they also like you too. Now, it’s time to ask them if they want to go out with you.
Here is where veux-tu être mon petit-ami? or veux-tu être mon petite-amie? might come in handy. Veux-tu être mon petit-ami? is what you’d ask your male crush whereas veux-tu être mon petite-amie? is what you’d use to ask your female crush.
Veux-tu être mon petit(e)-ami(e)? translates as “Do you want to be my boyfriend/girlfriend?” however also is used in the same sense as “Do you want to go out with me?”
4. Veux-tu m’épouser?
No list on the most romantic French love words would be complete without this. Let’s say you’d told your crush you liked them and then you’d asked them out, you’ve been dating for a while and now you’re thinking about the next step.
This is where veux-tu m’épouser? comes in. It is perhaps something you’ll only hear once in your life, and translates to mean “Will you marry me?”
It is only used in the same context as you would in English. That is to say, that you would only use it if your relationship is serious and you genuinely want to marry that person.
But beware, if you plan to ask veux-tu m’épouser? to your partner, make sure to ask the bride’s father first. French culture is very strict and expects that the groom will ask the bride’s father for her hand in marriage.
3. Est-ce que tu m’aimes?
Est-ce que tu m’aimes? is one of the most common French love words in the entire language.
If you have a crush, and you’d like to ask them if them if they also like you, you’ll probably want to use est-ce que tu m’aimes?
Est-ce que tu m’aimes? is translated to mean “Do you like me?” or “Do you love me?” It can also be used to question someone’s love for you (although you wouldn’t use it in that context here!)
However, use this one at your own peril. Just because you can use it, doesn’t mean that you will get the answer you’re hoping for. More than a fair share of people have had their hearts broken by asking this question…
2. Tu es l’amour de ma vie
Tu es l’amour de ma vie is used in the same context as je suis amoureux de vous. However, unlike je suis amoureux de vous, tu es l’amour de ma vie is used when you are further on in your relationship.
Tu es l’amour de ma vie literally translates as “You are the love of my life”. It is one of the most common romantic French phrases among married couples on dates, however it can be used by non-married couples.
The phrase “Tu es l’amour de ma vie” is considered to be a big deal in French. Rest assured that if your special someone says it to you, they mean it, as it is taken very seriously.
1. Pouvons-nous embrasser?
Pouvons-nous embrasser? is perhaps one of the best French love words in my opinion. It is most commonly used on dates, or more accurately at the end of a date.
Pouvons-nous embrasser? translates as “Can we kiss?” or “May we kiss?” It is often used to signify that your relationship has gone to the next level.
Another way to ask pouvons-nous embrasser? is to ask peux-je embrasser tes lèvres? which translates as “Can I/May I kiss your lips?” However the latter is more commonly used in Quebec and Creole French.
Got anymore romantic French phrases or love words? Tell me in the comments!