Speak Your Love’s Language – How to Say “I Love You” Around the World

How to Say “I Love You” in 20 Different Languages

Declare your love this Valentine’s Day by showing your special someone that you speak their language. Here’s how to say “I Love You” in 20 languages around the world.

1. French – Je t’aime.
2. Italian – Ti amo.
3. Spanish – Te amo. Te quiero.
4. German – Ich liebe dich.
5. Portuguese – Eu te amo. (Brazil) Eu amo-te. (Portugal)
6. Russian –  я тебя люблю. (Ya tebya lyublyu.)
7. Mandarin Chinese – 我爱你 (Wǒ ài nǐ.)
8. Cantonese Chinese – 我愛你 (Ngóh oi néih.)
9. Japanese – 愛してる (Aishiteru.)
10. Korean  – 사랑해 (Saranghae.)
11. Pashto – .زه ستا سره مينه کوم (Za la ta sara meena kawom.)
12. Tagalog – Mahal kita.
13. Swahili – Nakupenda.
14. Dutch – Ik hou van jou.
15. Hebrew –
    • male to female: אני אהב אתך (ani ohev otach)
    • male to male: אני אהב אתכה (ani ohev otcha)
    • female to male: אני אהבת אתכה (ani ohevet otcha)
    • female to female: אני אהבת אתך (ani ohevet otach)
16. Swedish – Jag älskar dig.
17. Farsi – دوستت دارم (Dootset daram.)
18. Greek – Σ’αγαπώ (S’agapo.)
19. Norwegian – Jeg elsker deg.
20. Hindi –
    • When spoken by a man:   मैं तुमसे प्यार करता हूँ   (main tumse pyaar kartaa hoon.)
    • When spoken by a women:  मैं तुमसे प्यार करती हूँ    (main tumse pyaar kartee hoon.)

BONUS!!

21. Pig Latin – Iway ovelay ouyou.

How to Say “I Love You” – The Masterclass:

Fun Valentine’s Facts

Valentine’s Day Started with the Romans.

Some historians trace Valentine’s Day origins to Lupercalia, an ancient Roman purification and fertility festival celebrated on February 15. Roman priests would walk through the city swinging skins of newly sacrificed goats. If a goatskin happened to touch a woman, it was believed that she would be fertile and deliver healthy children.

The goatskins were called februa, which means “to make clean”.  This is where the month “February” derives its name.

What Are The Most Popular Gifts on Valentine’s Day?

According to the National Retail Federation, total spending for Valentine’s Day in the US is expected to top $20 billion. That’s an average of $161.96 per person.

Candy is the most popular Valentine’s Day gift. 52 percent of consumers are expected to buy some sort of candy this holiday, spending $1.8 billion.

Rounding out the list of most popular gifts are greeting cards (44%); flowers (35%); an evening out (34%); jewelry (18%); clothing (18%); and gift cards (15%). While nearly half of people polled said they’d prefer to receive an “experience gift”, such as tickets to an event or a spa-day, only a quarter of respondents plan to give one.

Why We Use “XOXO” to Represent Hugs and Kisses

Signing or embossing letters and documents with an “X” dates back to the Middle Ages when the majority of people could not read or write.  The X represents the word for Christ or cross. This symbol derives from the first letter (Chi) in the Greek word for Christ, Χριστός. 

After signing an X you would then “seal it with a kiss” signifying your oath under God that what is contained in the letter is true.

The origin of using an “O” to represent a hug is less clear.  However, the pairing of X’s and O’s is traditional and goes as far back as the Romans who played an ancient form of the game of Tic, Tac, Toe.

The Longest Marriage on Record

Karam and Katari Chand, from Bradford, West Yorkshire, England had an arranged marriage that lasted 90 years and 291 days.

The couple, married in India on December 11, 1925, when the country was still under British rule, celebrated their 90th wedding anniversary in 2015.

Their goal was to reach a century of marriage, but sadly Mr. Chand passed away in October 2016, at age 110. Mrs. Chand recently celebrated her 106^th birthday.

The First Bird a Girl Sees on February 14 Will Predict her Future Husband

Young girls in the U.K. believed the type of bird they saw first on Valentine’s Day would predict the husband they would one day marry.

• Goldfinch – a rich man
• Sparrow – a poor man
• Bluebird – a happy man
• Blackbird – a clergyman
• Robin – a sailor
• Crossbill – an augmentative man
• Owl – you will be a spinster
• Dove – you will have a mate for life

Beware of seeing a squirrel before a bird on Valentine’s Day, however, because that means you will marry a cheapskate who will hoard all of his money.

In Japan, Only Women Give Gifts on Valentine’s Day

In 1936, the Japanese confectionary company Morozoff wanted to introduce Valentine’s Day to the country. A translation error in their advertisement, however, led to the one-sided custom of women giving gifts of chocolate to the men in their lives.

Japanese women are expected to give inexpensive giri-choco, literally “obligatory chocolate”, as a way of thanking their male friends, co-workers and even bosses for favors and kindnesses shown throughout the year.

Honmei-choco, or “favorite chocolate”, is reserved for that special someone and is typically either expensive or homemade.

Men get their turn to reciprocate exactly one month later when, on March 14, they celebrate White Day. On White Day men give the women in their lives marshmallows, white chocolate, and cookies.

Why is Lace is Often Used on Valentine Decorations?

In the nineteenth-century, valentine cards were constructed with materials chosen for both their tactile quality and their symbolism. Lace became a popular component because it’s not only beautiful but also because the word “lace” comes from the Latin laques, which means “to snare or net,” as in to catch a person’s heart.

Letters Addressed to “Juliet” – The Juliet Club

Each year thousands of letters are delivered to Verona, Italy addressed simply to “Juliet.” The letters pour in from across the globe and are filled with tales of heartbreak and unrequited love.

Verona, of course, is the setting for Shakespeare’s romantic tragedy Romeo and Juliet. Every letter is read and answered by a volunteer from the local “Juliet Club”. On Valentine’s Day, the club awards the annual Cara Giulietta (“Dear Juliet”) prize to the writers of the most beautiful love letters received that year.

Dig Deeper Into Your Love’s Language

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