How to say “I love you” in Dutch

The most common way to say “i love you” in Dutch. Tap to copy or hear it pronounced.

Ik hou van jou

In a sentence

English

Hello, I love you.

Dutch

Hallo, Ik hou van jou

Translate more text into DutchDutch dictionary

Frequently asked

How do you say "I love you" in Dutch?

"I love you" in Dutch is "Ik hou van jou". This is the most common everyday rendering; depending on context, formal/informal or dialectal variants may apply.

How is "Ik hou van jou" written in Dutch?

"Ik hou van jou" is the standard written form in Dutch, rendered left-to-right.

How do you pronounce "Ik hou van jou" in Dutch?

Tap the speaker icon on this page to hear "Ik hou van jou" pronounced by a native-style synthetic voice. For practice, repeat the phrase out loud immediately after listening — the rhythm and stress are usually what trips learners up, not the individual sounds.

What does "Ik hou van jou" mean in English?

"Ik hou van jou" is the Dutch way of saying "I love you" in English. It's used in everyday conversation in roughly the same situations as the English original.

Are there formal or informal ways to say "I love you" in Dutch?

Many languages — including Dutch — distinguish formal and informal registers, and may also vary by speaker gender, plurality, or regional dialect. "Ik hou van jou" is the most broadly understood form; for register-specific variants, use the full translator above with your exact sentence.

Where is Dutch spoken?

Dutch is spoken by an estimated 25 million people worldwide. Use the language page to translate full text and explore where the language is used.

Is there a free Dutch dictionary?

Yes — Polytranslator provides a free Dutch dictionary with word-by-word translations and example usage. Click the dictionary link on this page to look up individual words from "Ik hou van jou" or any other Dutch text.

Other common phrases in Dutch

I love you” in other languages