“Je t’aime” is French for “I love you.”

Basic meaning

  • “Je” = I.
  • “t’” (from “te”) = you.
  • “aime” = love.

So the full phrase literally means “I love you,” and it’s a strong expression of affection.

Romantic vs other uses

  • To a partner (boyfriend, girlfriend, spouse), “je t’aime” usually means romantic, deep love.
  • To family or very close friends, it can also mean “I love you” in an emotional, non‑romantic way.
  • French people use it less casually than English “love you”; it tends to feel more serious.

A softer or more platonic way can be “je t’aime bien” (“I like you”), which avoids sounding too intense.

TL;DR: “Je t’aime” = “I love you,” generally a serious, heartfelt declaration of love, especially in romantic contexts.