I Love You in Turkish: Seni Seviyorum and Love Words

I love you in Turkish is seni seviyorum, pronounced seh-nee seh-vee-yoh-room. To say "I love you too", answer ben de seni seviyorum (ben deh seh-nee seh-vee-yoh-room), or just ben de (me too).

Turkish also has plenty of pet names, from canım (my dear) to aşkım (my love). Some of them turn up well outside romance, between friends or with children, which can be confusing at first. If the letters ı, ş or ğ are new to you, read the Turkish alphabet and pronunciation guide first.

How seni seviyorum is built

Seni is the object form of sen. Sev- takes a direct object in the accusative, so "you" becomes seni. Saying sen seviyorum is the mistake beginners make most. The Turkish cases guide explains the ending.

Turks say "I love you" in the present continuous, so seviyorum is the form you want. The aorist severim means "I like" in a general sense, as in Çay severim (I like tea). Our guide to Turkish tenses explains the difference.

Ways to say I love you, by strength and register

Sevmek covers both "love" and "like", so Türk kahvesini seviyorum (I love Turkish coffee) is perfectly normal. Aşk is romantic love only. TDK's Güncel Türkçe Sözlük defines it as a very strong feeling of love and attachment to someone or something, and the word comes from Arabic. That makes sana aşığım a bigger statement than seni seviyorum, so think twice before a second date.

Senden hoşlanıyorum is what you say to a crush before a relationship starts. In casual speech, seviyorum often shortens to seviyom; you'll see it in songs and texts, but stick to the full form when you write.

Turkish terms of endearment

Canım is the most flexible of these. Can comes from Persian and means "soul" or "life", per TDK. Women use canım with friends all the time, parents use it with children, and you may hear it from a shop assistant. Between a man and a woman who don't know each other, though, it can sound too familiar.

Aşkım and sevgilim are for a partner. Say them to a friend and it comes across as a joke or a flirt. Sevgilim also means "my girlfriend" or "my boyfriend" when you talk about someone: Bu benim sevgilim (This is my girlfriend / boyfriend).

Romantic phrases

How to reply

Ben de seni seviyorum is the safe reply. When a friend says seni seviyorum after a favour, sağ ol canım is a warm, friendly answer that keeps it platonic. For other ways to say thanks, see how to say thank you in Turkish.

Pronunciation tips for English speakers

1. ı (dotless i) is the short vowel in the second syllable of "roses". It's in canım, aşkım, hayatım and tatlım. Pronounce aşkım with an "ee" and it sounds like a different word.
2. ş is "sh": aşkım is ahsh-kuhm.
3. c is "j": canım is jah-nuhm, not kah-nuhm.
4. ğ lengthens the vowel before it: aşığım sounds like ah-shuh-uhm.
5. ü and ö are rounded: say "ee" with lips rounded for güzelim, and "e" with rounded lips for özledim.

Common mistakes

• Sen seviyorum instead of seni seviyorum. The object needs the accusative.
• Typing askim or canim. Without the dotless ı, the words lose their sound. On a phone, hold down the i key to find ı.
• Calling a new acquaintance aşkım. Save it for a partner.
• Using severim for a person. Seni severim sounds more like "I'm fond of you". For romantic love, use seviyorum.
• Treating sizi seviyorum as a polite form. To one partner, siz sounds distant or comic.

Two short dialogues

On the phone:

• Elif: Seni özledim, aşkım.
• Tom: Ben de seni özledim. Yarın görüşelim mi?
• Elif: Olur. Seni seviyorum.
• Tom: Ben de seni seviyorum, canım.

Between friends:

• Selin: Taşınmama yardım ettiğin için çok teşekkürler. Seni seviyorum!
• Ayşe: Ben de seni canım. İyi ki varsın.

Meeting a partner's family takes more than love words. Learning Turkish for your partner covers family visits, and hello in Turkish covers the first words at the door. For birthdays and anniversaries, the Turkish numbers and dates guide helps with the date.

Frequently asked questions

How do you say I love you in Turkish?

Seni seviyorum. For "I love you so much", say seni çok seviyorum.

How do you reply to seni seviyorum?

Say ben de seni seviyorum (I love you too), or just ben de (me too).

What does canım mean?

Literally "my soul" or "my life". In practice it means "dear" or "darling", and it's used with partners, children and close friends.

Is aşkım only for a boyfriend or girlfriend?

Yes, in most situations. Among close female friends it's sometimes used jokingly, but with anyone else it sounds romantic.

The words are easy to memorise. Saying aşkım with a real dotless ı, and knowing which pet name fits which person, is where a native speaker helps. If you'd like that kind of feedback, try the free level test and then request a free trial lesson with Ceylan, who has taught Turkish for eight years and can explain in English.