"I Love You" vs. "Love You”: What They Mean & When to Say Them

So your partner says “love you” instead of “I love you,” or maybe your friend just texted you “I love you,” and despite your best efforts, you can’t figure out what they’re trying to say. Do they love you-love you, or just like you? In this article, we consulted various licensed psychologists to explain the difference between these two phrases and help you decide how to respond.

“Love You” vs. “I Love You” Explained

Both phrases are an expression of love, but “love you” tends to be more casual than “I love you.” “Love you” is typically used among friends, family, and loved ones as a quick way to express love, while “I love you” is used among partners and loved ones to show that you truly care, trust, respect, and love them.

Section 1 of 8:

What’s the difference between “I love you” and “Love you?”

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“I love you” is serious and usually reserved for partners and loved ones. You’d be surprised what one little “I” can do to change the sincerity of a phrase. Saying “I love you” as opposed to “love you” shows a degree of ownership over your emotions for that person and implies that you not only care for them romantically or platonically (friends and family) but that you trust and respect them too.^{[1]
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- Example: “I love you, Alex. I’ve been feeling this way for a while now and decided I just had to tell you.”
- Example: “I love you, Jenna. I won the jackpot having you as my child.”
- Example: “Have I told you that I love you yet today? You’re the best partner anyone could ask for.”
Meet the wikiHow Experts

Jessica January Behr, PsyD, is a licensed clinical psychologist who treats those who experience anxiety, stress, relationship problems, and depression.

Sarah Schewitz, PsyD, is a licensed psychologist with over 15 years of experience helping couples and individuals change and improve patterns in their love and relationships.

Cher Gopman is a dating coach and founder of NYC Wingwoman, LLC, a date coaching service that offers matchmaking, wingwoman services, coaching, and weekend bootcamps.
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“Love you” is more casual and used among family, friends, and loved ones. Unlike “I love you,” “love you” is a kind phrase shared between friends, family, or whoever you feel like being nice to. Like “thank you,” “love you” can also be used to express gratitude or appreciation.
- Example: “You seriously saved my life helping me with that assignment the other night. Love you!”
- Example: “Love you, see you at Emma’s house tonight.”
- Example: “Haha, love you. You’re the best!”
- “Love you” is just a shorter, simpler way to express your love. It’s typically said in parting or passing without getting too deep and sentimental.

Section 2 of 8:

What does “love you” mean from a partner?

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When you hear a quick “love you” from your partner, whether it be over text or during a quick hallway shuffle in the morning, it’s a casual expression of love. It’s reserved for hurried moments where “I love you” would be considered a little over the top, and typically, nothing special is meant by it.
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“Love you” can be a negative sign if it’s not what your partner usually says. This isn’t always the case, but if you two have been going through a rough patch, “love you” may be an indication that your partner is upset and not feeling as loving as usual. This doesn’t mean that they don’t love you, though. It just means they’re upset and may not want to express the depths of their love right now.
- If your partner is the type to swap between “love you” and “I love you” and you aren’t going through a hard time, they most likely don’t mean anything by the switch.

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Responding to “I Love You”

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If you feel lucky to be the recipient of someone’s sincere love for you and want to reciprocate the sentiment, be brave and say it back! The great thing is they’ve already gotten the hardest part out of the way by telling you first.^{[2]
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If you’re surprised, say “Thank you for saying that. I need time to think things through.” Sometimes, someone confessing their feelings for you can catch you off guard. This example clearly communicates that you need time to process the information you’ve just received.
- Licensed clinical psychologist Jessica January Behr, PsyD, says that If you don't want to hurt the person, try figuring out a way to show appreciation while acknowledging that you're not reciprocating those same feelings at that moment.^{[3]
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  - For instance, you might say that you care about them.
If you know you can’t reciprocate your friends’ romantic affection for you, it’s best to communicate openly and honestly. Letting them know your feelings respectfully is the best way to deal with this situation.^{[4]
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Section 4 of 8:

Responding to “Love You”

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If you feel comfortable, reciprocate the sentiment. “Love you” can be used super casually between friends to show affection and sometimes even strangers to show playful friendliness, so you don’t need to think too much about saying it back.
Keep it casual. This fun phrase works great when used in passing or when commenting on a friend’s social media post.
If saying “love you” makes you uncomfortable, go with your gut and respond in a way that’s true to you. There’s nothing wrong with a simple “thank you.”

Section 5 of 8:

When to Say “I Love You”

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Say “I love you” when you want to express deep romantic feelings. Recognizing that you love someone is a beautiful, scary, and exciting thing. If you find yourself wanting to tell your special person that you love them, take the leap and go for it. It’s better to know that you were honest than to live with the regret of “what if?” Who knows, this could be the start of something amazing!
- Example: “We’ve been dating for a while now, and I want to tell you that I love you.”
- Example: “Jess, I love you. We’ve been friends for so long, but things have changed for me, and I hope they have for you, too.”
- Example: “This might come as a surprise to you, but I love you. You don’t have to say it back yet, or if you need some time to think about it. I just had to tell you.”
- Saying "I love you" usually indicates that you want to be in a committed relationship with this person, so make sure you're ready for that step before taking the plunge.
- Reader Poll: We asked 1346 wikiHow readers which signs in a relationship would make them feel ready to commit, and 56% of them agreed on a strong emotional connection and understanding. [Take Poll] So these may be good signs to look for before saying the big three words!
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Say “I love you” when you want to express deep platonic love. Whether you care deeply for a friend, family member, or otherwise, “I love you” is appropriate to use in serious moments with the people you value most. “I love you” is always more meaningful than “love you.”^{[5]
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- Example: “I love you, Mom. Thank you for making me the person I am today.”
- Example: “Your friendship means so much to me. I love you, Alex.”
- Example: “You’ve always been there for me through everything, Coach Johnson. I love you.”
- According to licensed psychologist Sarah Schewitz, PsyD, “Vulnerability is the birthplace of intimacy, so if you’re feeling something just say it.”^{[6]
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Section 6 of 8:

When to Say “Love You”

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Say “love you” when you want to be friendly, casual, or say thank you. “Love you” is a fun and casual way to make your friends and family feel special, and it’s so important to let them know you care.^{[7]
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Mayo Clinic
Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals

Go to source} These days, “love you” is used more as a sign of friendliness than as a way to declare your serious feelings for someone.
- Example: “Love you!”
- Example: “You always make me laugh, love you for that.”
- Example: “Love you, Jack. See you at school tomorrow.”

Section 7 of 8:

When should you say “I am in love with you” vs. “I love you?”

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Say “I am in love with you” when expressing your feelings for someone for the first time. “I am in love with you” is explicitly reserved for telling someone that you love them romantically. If you’ve fallen in love and want your partner or crush to know for sure, tell them that you are in love with them.^{[8]
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- Example: “I’m in love with you, Max.”
- Example: “With all this time we’ve been spending together, I’ve really fallen for you. I am in love with you, Margot.
- Example: “I do so much for you because I’m in love with you. You deserve it.”
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Say “I love you” if your romantic feelings are already established. If you’ve already confessed your love for your romantic partner, saying “I love you” whenever you feel inclined to do so is perfectly fine. Since your partner already knows your feelings for them, you don’t have to say “I am in love with you” every time you want to let them know you care.^{[9]
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- Example: “Gosh, I love you! You look gorgeous today.”
- Example: “Thank you for the extra support today. I love you, Erica.”
- Example: “I love you. You make me so proud to call you my partner.”

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How to Tell If They Love You

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You can tell someone loves you if they treat you well and highly value you. Dating coach Cher Gopman says that “You know someone is in love with you by how they treat you, how they look at you, and how they talk about you, as well as how they treat you when others are around.”^{[10]
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Cher Gopman
Dating Coach

Expert Interview} So, rather than basing their love on what they say, look at their actions to determine whether or not they love you. Some actions that show they love you include:
- They think about you when they’re making big decisions, ask for your opinion on things involving their future, and take active steps to build a life with you.
- They consistently uplift, compliment, and speak highly of you to your face and when you’re not around.
- They support and respect you when you’re going through hard or boring times.
- They aren’t afraid to be vulnerable with you and let you be vulnerable with them.
- They help with chores, errands, and other acts of service to genuinely make your life easier.
- If you’re overthinking about the situation, take a step back and consider all of the ways they show their love without saying it. Just because they don’t say “I love you” out loud doesn’t mean they don’t love you.

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Question

How do you respond to an "I love you" text?

Jessica January Behr, PsyD
Relationship Psychologist
Dr. Jessica January Behr is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist and the Founder and Director of Behr Psychology. She specializes in jungian psychoanalysis and sand tray therapy. Additionally, Dr. Behr treats those experiencing anxiety, stress, relationship problems, and depression. She holds a BA in Psychology from Hunter College. Dr. Behr also holds a Masters of Science of Education (MsED) in School Psychology and a Doctor of Psychology (PsyD) in Clinical Psychology from Pace University.

Jessica January Behr, PsyD

Relationship Psychologist

Expert Answer

Take some time to think about how the text makes you feel first. Did it make you happy? Did it make you uncomfortable? Did it make you nervous? You're totally entitled to take time and process your thoughts and feelings—don't feel pressured or like you're "on the clock" to give a response!

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Why do best friends often say "love you" to each other?

Sweet_but_Psycho

Community Answer

Best friends often say "love you" because they share a strong platonic bond and care deeply for each other. It's a way to express appreciation and affection without romantic implications.

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