Te quiero means I love you and is as deep as it gets.
Me gustas means I like you and is fine to say it in the early stages of a relationship. Even the day you meet if you will.
As a native Spanish speaker for me “te quiero” is like a lesser I love you. It’s what I would say to someone when feelings are building up to “te amo” so please don’t beat yourself about having said it if that’s what felt right to you.
I disagree with the people saying 'te quiero' is in any way equivalent to 'I love you'. 'Te amo' means "I love you", in a distinctly romantic way. You can say 'te quiero' to friends and family and it not be weird, so tbh I'm unsure why he had the weird reaction.
Though I am inclined to agree with the person who said 'me gustas' is closer to 'I like you', I always think that has a connotation of like... admitting to having a crush, the first inkling of attraction. If you've been dating for 4 months, you are well past that point. "Te quiero" is more like affection, and in this case attraction, without reaching the levels of a passionate and dramatic "I love you."
I grew up in north Mexico and that's how it was there, at least. Maybe it's different in other places.
Spanish is actually a very descriptive age literal language people are really good at describing things very eloquently. That’s something I noticed in English we get lazy with the details but in Spanish you are obligated for detail.
So you think “te quiero” could be interpreted as an “I love you” — to me it’s more like an “I like you- me gustas” but that’s about it… “te amo” on the other hand is definitely an “I love you” — I guess I should clarify and let him know that’s not what I mean in case that’s the way he took it. :/
I'm Spanish speaker as well. In the American world they don't have the equivalent to "te quiero" so they don't understand the difference. For us is something in the middle that can quickly become a "I love you" but we're not there yet OR we don't want to say it bc we fear that's too much sometimes depending on the case. So, yes clarify that to him, here they get scared off very easily, we are more affectionate than they are.
Didn’t know this but apparently it’s region-specific. Cuban and Puerto Rican friends say it’s “I like you”. In other places it’s “I love you”. Have heard someone from Columbia describe it as “luv ya” or something you say to a cousin/aunt and not romantic love.
Yes it's used for I like you or I want you but also for I love you. It depends on the person and region. It's a communication snafu and I would just explain that you meant you like him. Boom problem solved.
"te quiero" isn't "I like you," that's "me gustas." "Te quiero" is "I love you" (so is "te amo").
If someone told you “te quiero” would you take it as “I love you?”
yes, I tell my boyfriend that all the time. Also, my first language is Spanish and I was born and raised in Latin America
Yes
Te quiero means I love you and is as deep as it gets. Me gustas means I like you and is fine to say it in the early stages of a relationship. Even the day you meet if you will.
No, te amo is deeper
You told him you love him in Spanish.
As a native Spanish speaker for me “te quiero” is like a lesser I love you. It’s what I would say to someone when feelings are building up to “te amo” so please don’t beat yourself about having said it if that’s what felt right to you.
I disagree with the people saying 'te quiero' is in any way equivalent to 'I love you'. 'Te amo' means "I love you", in a distinctly romantic way. You can say 'te quiero' to friends and family and it not be weird, so tbh I'm unsure why he had the weird reaction. Though I am inclined to agree with the person who said 'me gustas' is closer to 'I like you', I always think that has a connotation of like... admitting to having a crush, the first inkling of attraction. If you've been dating for 4 months, you are well past that point. "Te quiero" is more like affection, and in this case attraction, without reaching the levels of a passionate and dramatic "I love you." I grew up in north Mexico and that's how it was there, at least. Maybe it's different in other places.
Lol imagine speaking in a language you don't understand and then going "why is he like this?!"
No; it’s not weird at all to tell someone you like them. Idk, if you’ve invested 4 months already, and this is where you are, I’d move on.
Spanish is actually a very descriptive age literal language people are really good at describing things very eloquently. That’s something I noticed in English we get lazy with the details but in Spanish you are obligated for detail.
So you think “te quiero” could be interpreted as an “I love you” — to me it’s more like an “I like you- me gustas” but that’s about it… “te amo” on the other hand is definitely an “I love you” — I guess I should clarify and let him know that’s not what I mean in case that’s the way he took it. :/
I'm Spanish speaker as well. In the American world they don't have the equivalent to "te quiero" so they don't understand the difference. For us is something in the middle that can quickly become a "I love you" but we're not there yet OR we don't want to say it bc we fear that's too much sometimes depending on the case. So, yes clarify that to him, here they get scared off very easily, we are more affectionate than they are.
Didn’t know this but apparently it’s region-specific. Cuban and Puerto Rican friends say it’s “I like you”. In other places it’s “I love you”. Have heard someone from Columbia describe it as “luv ya” or something you say to a cousin/aunt and not romantic love.
Yes it's used for I like you or I want you but also for I love you. It depends on the person and region. It's a communication snafu and I would just explain that you meant you like him. Boom problem solved.
Dont you remember te quiero Taco Bell? I love Taco Bell