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How to say “I love you” in Polish

The short answer is Kocham cię. Here's that and the phrases that go with it — tap any row to hear it.

“I love you” in Polish is Kocham cię, and it's one of the first phrases many learners want to get exactly right. The verb is kochać (to love), and cię is the short form of “you.” It's a strong, sincere phrase reserved for real romantic love and very close family — Poles don't scatter it around the way English speakers might say “love you” to a friend, so it carries real weight when you say it.

For feelings that are warm but not that serious, Polish gives you gentler options. Lubię cię means “I like you,” and Bardzo cię lubię (I like you a lot) is a sweet, safe step before the big word. When you're falling for someone, Zakochałem się (said by a man) or Zakochałam się (said by a woman) means “I've fallen in love” — and notice how the verb ending itself changes with the speaker's gender, a hallmark of the Polish past tense.

Polish is also rich in czułe słówka — terms of endearment. Kochanie (darling), skarbie (treasure / sweetheart), and diminutives of names are everywhere in couples' and families' speech. Poland even has its own answer to Valentine's — alongside Walentynki there's a folk celebration in autumn — and phrases like Tęsknię za tobą (I miss you) come up constantly in messages and calls across distance.

Below you'll find the confessions, the pet names, and the everyday affectionate phrases, each with audio so you can hear the natural rhythm. Say them out loud a few times — tone matters as much as the words with something this personal — and you'll be ready whether you're writing a message, ending a phone call, or saying the important thing in person.

Saying it — wyznania

Pet names — czułe słówka

Keep going

Start from the basics in greetings & phrases, build real sentences in the lessons, or keep words fresh with My Vocabulary. Related: family members, phrasebook.