To understand when it's appropriate to say te quiero or te amo, first, you need to look at the verbs amar and querer individually. Many English speakers mistakenly think that the only translation for te quiero is "I desire you" or "I want you," when there are many other ways in which you can express desire.
Spanish, Vocabulary. There are 2 common ways to say I love you in Spanish: Te amo and Te quiero. Te amo is a romantic and compassionate way to express your love for someone or something. Since it includes the verb "amar" which implies to love, it should be used when you have a strong attachment for something or someone.ypsT.