Words for a brave little moment

How to say “I like you” in 30 languages

Find the natural phrase, native script, romanization, pronunciation guidance, and the context that tells a friendly “I like you” from romantic interest.

Quick answer

One feeling does not have one universal translation

“I like you” can mean friendly fondness, early attraction, or a direct romantic confession. Some languages use different words for those meanings. Others change the sentence according to gender, respect, age, or the relationship between the two people.

That is why this collection gives more than a translation table. Each guide explains who can say the phrase, what it usually signals, how the grammar works, and which stronger phrase you should not use by accident. Use the short answer first, then read the context before sending it.

30

Language guides

Every guide has a permanent, crawlable page with a focused answer.

5

Writing systems

Latin, Cyrillic, Greek, Arabic-derived, and Asian scripts appear in their native form.

1

Important rule

Match the phrase to the person and the relationship, not just the dictionary.

Pick the words you need

“I like you” translations by language

Open a language for an example, reply, pronunciation note, and friendly-versus-romantic alternative.

01 🇪🇸 Spanish · Español

Me gustas

meh GOOS-tahs

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02 🇫🇷 French · Français

Tu me plais

tew muh pleh

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03 🇩🇪 German · Deutsch

Ich mag dich

ikh mahk dikh

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04 🇮🇹 Italian · Italiano

Mi piaci

mee PYAH-chee

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05 🇧🇷 Portuguese · Português

Gosto de você

GOHS-too jeh voh-SEH

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06 🇳🇱 Dutch · Nederlands

Ik vind je leuk

ik fint yuh luke

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07 🇸🇪 Swedish · Svenska

Jag tycker om dig

yahg TIK-er ohm day

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08 🇳🇴 Norwegian · Norsk

Jeg liker deg

yai LEE-ker dai

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09 🇩🇰 Danish · Dansk

Jeg kan lide dig

yai kan LEE-thuh dai

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10 🇫🇮 Finnish · Suomi

Pidän sinusta

PEE-dan SEE-noos-tah

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11 🇵🇱 Polish · Polski

Podobasz mi się

poh-DOH-bash mee shyeh

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12 🇨🇿 Czech · Čeština

Líbíš se mi

LEE-beesh seh mee

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13 🇷🇴 Romanian · Română

Îmi place de tine

uhm PLAH-cheh deh TEE-neh

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14 🇬🇷 Greek · Ελληνικά

Μου αρέσεις

moo ah-REH-sees

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15 🇷🇺 Russian · Русский

Ты мне нравишься

ty mnye NRAH-veesh-syah

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16 🇺🇦 Ukrainian · Українська

Ти мені подобаєшся

ty meh-NEE poh-doh-BAH-yesh-syah

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17 🇹🇷 Turkish · Türkçe

Senden hoşlanıyorum

SEN-den hosh-lah-NUH-yo-room

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18 🇸🇦 Arabic · العربية

أنا معجب بك / أنا معجبة بك

ana mu'jab bika/biki; ana mu'jaba bika/biki

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19 🇮🇱 Hebrew · עברית

אתה מוצא חן בעיניי / את מוצאת חן בעיניי

ata motze khen be'enai; at motzet khen be'enai

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20 🇮🇷 Persian · فارسی

من ازت خوشم میاد

man azat khosham miyad

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21 🇮🇳 Hindi · हिन्दी

तुम मुझे पसंद हो

tum mujhe pasand ho

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22 🇧🇩 Bengali · বাংলা

আমি তোমাকে পছন্দ করি

ami tomake pochhondo kori

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23 🇵🇰 Urdu · اردو

تم مجھے پسند ہو

tum mujhe pasand ho

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24 🇨🇳 Mandarin Chinese · 普通话

我喜欢你

Wǒ xǐhuān nǐ

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25 🇭🇰 Cantonese · 廣東話

我鍾意你

ngo5 zung1 ji3 nei5

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26 🇯🇵 Japanese · 日本語

好きです

suki desu

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27 🇰🇷 Korean · 한국어

좋아해요

joahaeyo

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28 🇻🇳 Vietnamese · Tiếng Việt

Mình thích bạn

mình thích bạn

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29 🇹🇭 Thai · ภาษาไทย

ผมชอบคุณ / ฉันชอบคุณ

phǒm chɔ̂ɔp khun; chǎn chɔ̂ɔp khun

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30 🇮🇩 Indonesian · Bahasa Indonesia

Aku suka kamu

AH-koo SOO-kah KAH-moo

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Say what you actually mean

How to choose the right phrase

1. Decide whether it is friendly or romantic

English uses “like” for several kinds of connection. Spanish me gustas and Polish podobasz mi się usually make attraction clearer, while German ich mag dich can remain friendly without another clue.

2. Check pronouns and gender

Vietnamese pronouns describe the relationship. Arabic and Hebrew forms can change with the speaker or listener’s gender. Japanese and Korean often omit “you” because repeating it can sound unnatural.

3. Add a low-pressure next step

A phrase alone can still be ambiguous. If you mean romantic interest, add a simple invitation: Coffee, a walk, or another chance to talk. Our guide to telling someone you like them shows how to make the answer easy and respectful.

Common questions

Before you say “I like you” in another language

Is a literal translation always natural?

No. Languages organize the idea differently. Several European languages use a structure closer to “you are pleasing to me,” while Japanese and Korean may omit the person entirely when context is clear.

Can I use these phrases with a friend?

Sometimes. Read the specific guide first. A phrase may be broad and friendly in one language but sound like a confession of attraction in another. Each page gives a softer or stronger alternative.

Will the romanization make my pronunciation perfect?

No. Romanization is a map, not native audio. Tone languages such as Mandarin, Cantonese, Vietnamese, and Thai require listening practice. Use the guide to identify the phrase, then ask a fluent speaker to help with sound and social fit.

Editorial note: Core translations were cross-checked against the Wiktionary “I like you” translation index. Languages vary by region and relationship, so every page names important limits instead of claiming one phrase fits everyone.

Make the moment easier

The translation is only the first sentence.

Use a clear invitation, leave room for an honest answer, and choose words that fit the connection you actually have.

Read the practical guide Try conversation starters
A useful note, occasionally