How to say “I love you” in Korean
- 사랑해요saranghaeyo
I love you
"I love you" in Korean is 사랑해요 (saranghaeyo), or 사랑해 (saranghae) when you say it to a partner, a close friend or family. Both come from the verb 사랑하다 (saranghada), "to love". The only difference is how polite you are being.
Ways to say it
| Korean | Level | When to use it |
|---|---|---|
| 사랑해 saranghae | Casual | To a partner, close friend or family. This is the one you hear most in K-dramas between couples. |
| 사랑해요 saranghaeyo | Polite | Polite but still warm. Good for parents, grandparents, or anyone you would normally speak politely to. |
| 사랑합니다 saranghamnida | Formal | Formal and a little grand. Idols say it to fans on stage, and people use it in speeches or cards. |
| 너무 사랑해 neomu saranghae | Casual | "I love you so much." 너무 (neomu) adds feeling. Use it with a partner or family. |
| 많이 사랑해 mani saranghae | Casual | "I love you a lot." A gentle, common way to end a phone call or text with someone close. |
Examples
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Saying goodbye to Mom on the phone
Texting a partner before bed
An idol speaking to fans at a concert
Tips
Koreans usually drop the words "I" and "you". 사랑해 on its own already means "I love you". Adding 나는 너를 (naneun neoreul) is grammatically fine but sounds stiff, like reading from a textbook.
사랑해 carries real weight between couples, so people do not say it on a first date. If you have a crush, 좋아해 (joahae, "I like you") is the usual first step. With parents and grandparents, saying 사랑해요 is common and always welcome.
Pronounce it sa-rang-hae, with the "hae" sounding like "heh". In 사랑해요 the ending sounds like "heh-yo".
More on 사랑해 in our Korean phrase guides.
Questions learners ask
What does saranghae mean?
Saranghae (사랑해) means "I love you" in casual Korean. It is what couples, close friends and family say to each other.
Should I say saranghae or saranghaeyo?
Use 사랑해 (saranghae) with a partner, close friends and people younger than you. Use 사랑해요 (saranghaeyo) when you want to stay polite, for example with parents-in-law or older relatives.
How do you write I love you in Korean?
It is written 사랑해 in Hangul (casual) or 사랑해요 (polite). The formal version is 사랑합니다.