Te amo or Te Quiero

[lizzie4compassion]

I am wondering what the difference is between te amo and te quiero. I know that amor means to love and querer means to want. So I figure that te amo means I love you. But I know that te quiero can be used to say I love you as well. Can you please explain the difference to me?

Thank you!

[Julvenzor]

That's a frequent question between native English speakers. While in English you usually use "to love" for numerous contexts: I love you, I love my car, I love this game, etc. In Spanish we don't use "amar" in order to express these meanings. One utilizes "querer" for friends, parents, relatives, etc. However, "amar" is only used when you mean "to love your mate": girlfriend, boyfriend, bride, etc. In other words, "amar" expresses a stronger love feeling than "querer".

A pleasure.

[chileno]

In other words....after Julvenzor's explanation:

Amar = to love

Querer = to love/ to want

Would that help?

[lizzie4compassion]

Thank you both!

I know that "amar" is used when talking about God's love for us and our love for Him. So is amar ever used to show strong love not in a marital relationship? (specifically, I am wondering if it is ever used that way in Latin/South America if it differs from Spain.)

[Rusty]

'Amar' is a stronger love than 'querer' and can certainly be used outside of a marital relationship, as Julvenzor mentioned.
God's love is properly conveyed with 'amar'. Our love for Him is properly conveyed with 'amar'. That said, you'll also hear 'querer' used to express that love.

Parents love their children. Both 'amar' and 'querer' may be used to express that love.

Both terms can be used, but keep in mind that there is a difference. I believe this is the same the world over.

You would use neither term if you're describing a love of music or of sports. For that, you use 'encantar'.

[poli]

In it's noun form:
Love of life/el amor de la vida
Es claro que los cachorros aman la vida.

I think a lot of it has to do with what is habitually said. Sometime in the arts amar/amor can be used
For example: el amor de la música.
Se ve que el pianista ama la música de Chopin.

In these two cases amar can be used instead of encantar.

[Rusty]

Agreed. I shouldn't have opened a can of worms.
There are particular ways these verbs are used.