Greek word for i like you

Love has always been an integral part of Greek culture. As such, the sheer number of Greek words for love and their accompanying romantic phrases should come as no surprise! 

In ancient Greece, people worshipped Aphrodite—the goddess of beauty and love—as well as Eros, the god of love and lust. There were also the Erotes, a small group of winged gods that carried around their bows and shot at people to make them fall in love. 

Many years later, Christianity was spread throughout Greece, leading to a whole new perception of love. The religion taught about having love for each other, not necessarily in a romantic context. 

Nowadays, rumor has it that modern Greeks are among the most loving partners. They are often described as communicative, charming, and caring. 

In this blog post, we’ll explore the magic world of love from a Greek point of view.

Table of Contents

1. Words About Love
2. Confess Your Affection: Pick-Up Lines & More
3. Fall in Deeper: “I Love You,” and More
4. Take it One Step Further: “Will You Marry Me?” & More
5. Endearment Terms
6. Must-know Love Quotes
7. Conclusion

1. Words About Love

• Greek: αγάπη (η)
• Romanization: agápi (i)
• Translation: “love” (fem. noun)

• Greek: έρωτας (ο)
• Romanization: érotas (o)
• Translation: “eros” (masc. noun)

• Greek: πάθος (το)
• Romanization: páthos (to)
• Translation: “passion” (neuter noun)

• Greek: συναίσθημα (το)
• Romanization: sinésthima (to)
• Translation: “emotion” (neuter noun)

• Greek: ενθουσιασμός (ο)
• Romanization: enthusiazmós (o)
• Translation: “excitement” (masc. noun)

We’re just warming up! Now, let’s take it one step at a time as we work through the following sections. 

2. Confess Your Affection: Pick-Up Lines & More

First things first, you can easily confess your affection in Greek by using one of these ready-to-use phrases:

• Greek: Μου αρέσεις.
• Romanization: Mu arésis.
• Translation: “I like you.”

• Greek: Θα ήθελα να σε γνωρίσω καλύτερα.
• Romanization: Tha íthela na se gnoríso kalítera.
• Translation: “I would like to get to know you better.”

• Greek: Αισθάνομαι πολύ όμορφα, όταν είμαι μαζί σου.
• Romanization: Esthánome polí ómorfa, ótan íme mazí su.
• Translation: “I feel very nice when I am with you.”

• Greek: Θα ήθελες να πάμε για έναν καφέ;
• Romanization: Tha ítheles na páme yia énan kafé?
• Translation: “Would you like to go for a coffee?”

Greeks are often talkative and are not afraid to express their feelings. Both men and women are used to  flirting, so the aforementioned phrases can be used by either a man or a woman. 

→ Want to make the most of your upcoming date? Here are some Common Greek Phrases You’ll Need for a Date and the Top 15 Compliments You Always Want to Hear.

3. Fall in Deeper: “I Love You,” and More

As you find yourself falling deeper and deeper in love, don’t worry—we’ve got your back!

If you’ve ever wondered how to say “I love you,” in Greek, here’s your answer:  

• Greek: Σ’ αγαπώ.
• Romanization: S’ agapó.
• Translation: “I love you.”

Do you want to take it a step further? Then you can say:

• Greek: Σε λατρεύω.
• Romanization: Se latrévo.
• Translation: “I adore you.”

• Greek: Μου λείπεις.
• Romanization: Mu lípis.
• Translation: “I miss you.”

• Greek: Δεν μπορώ να σταματήσω να σε σκέφτομαι.
• Romanization: Den boró na stamatíso na se skéftome.
• Translation: “I can’t stop thinking about you.”

And the ultimate confession: 

If you’re a man…

• Greek: Είμαι ερωτευμένος μαζί σου!
• Romanization: Íme erotevménos mazí su!
• Translation: “I am in love with you!” 

If you’re a woman…

• Greek: Είμαι ερωτευμένη μαζί σου!
• Romanization: Íme erotevméni mazí su!.
• Translation: “I am in love with you!”

As you might have noticed, there are two versions of “I am in love with you,” in Greek. This is due to the inflection of the passive voice participle. These words get declined similarly to adjectives; therefore, they should agree with the gender of the noun they refer to.

Consequently, when a man says it, the participle should be in its masculine form: ερωτευμένος. When a woman says it, the participle should be in its feminine form: ερωτευμένη. 

→ Want to learn more? Here are 15 Love Phrases for Valentine’s Day that are sure to melt your beloved’s heart!

4. Take it One Step Further: “Will You Marry Me?” & More

Time has passed and it’s time to settle down. Well, you’ve reached the right section! Here are some sweet love phrases in Greek you can use to express your feelings, establish your relationship, and finally propose to the love of your life! 

• Greek: Θέλεις να είμαστε μαζί;
• Romanization: Thélis na ímaste mazí?
• Translation: “Do you want us to be together?”

• Greek: Πού πάει αυτή η σχέση;
• Romanization: Pú pái aftí i shési?
• Translation: “Where is this relationship going?”

• Greek: Θέλεις να γνωρίσεις τους γονείς μου;
• Romanization: Thélis na gnorísis tus gonís mu?
• Translation: “Do you want to meet my parents?”

• Greek: Θέλεις να συζήσουμε;
• Romanization: Thélis na sizísume?
• Translation: “Do you want to live together?”

• Greek: Θέλεις να μείνουμε μαζί;
• Romanization: Thélis na mínume mazí?
• Translation: “Do you want to live together?”

• Greek: Θέλεις να αρραβωνιαστούμε;
• Romanization: Thélis na aravoniastúme?
• Translation: “Do you want to get engaged?”

When it comes to a marriage proposal, you have plenty of choices:

• Greek: Θα με παντρευτείς;
• Romanization: Tha me pandreftís?
• Translation: “Will you marry me?”

• Greek: Θέλεις να με παντρευτείς;
• Romanization: Thélis na me padreftís?
• Translation: “Do you want to marry me?”

• Greek: Με παντρεύεσαι;
• Romanization: Me padrévese?
• Translation: “Will you marry me?”

• Greek: Θέλεις να παντρευτούμε;
• Romanization: Thélis na padreftúme?
• Translation: “Do you want to get married?”

• Greek: Θέλεις να γίνεις η γυναίκα μου;
• Romanization: Thélis na yínis i yinéka mu?
• Translation: “Do you want to be my wife?”

• Greek: Θέλεις να γίνεις ο άντρας μου;
• Romanization: Thélis na yínis o ándras mu?
• Translation: “Do you want to be my husband?”

How about starting a family? If you’re in that blessed phase of your life, you could simply say: 

• Greek: Θέλεις να κάνουμε ένα παιδί;
• Romanization: Thélis na kánume éna pedí?
• Translation: “Do you want to have (do) a baby?”

5. Endearment Terms

Everybody loves being addressed in a sweet and loving way!

Don’t be shy. Feel free to use the following endearment terms with your partner. 

• Greek: αγάπη μου
• Romanization: agápi mu
• Translation: “my love”

• Greek: μωρό μου
• Romanization: moró mu
• Translation: “my baby”

• Greek: ματάκια μου
• Romanization: matákia mu
• Translation: “my little eyes”

• Greek: αστεράκι μου
• Romanization: asteráki mu
• Translation: “my little star”

Each of these endearments can be used for either a man or a woman, so feel free to use them without hesitation.

6. Must-know Love Quotes

Now that you’re well-equipped with a variety of words and phrases with which to shower your loved one in affection, let’s make one more stop. Below, you’ll find a few Greek love quotes translated in English as well as two popular proverbs on the topic. 

6.1 Ancient Greek Quotes About Love

• Greek: Η αγάπη αποτελείται από μία ψυχή που κατοικεί σε δύο σώματα.
• Romanization: I agápi apotelíte apó mia psihí pu katikí se dío sómata.
• Translation: “Love consists of one soul that is living within two bodies.”

This phrase belongs to Aristotle, one of the most famous ancient Greek philosophers. 

• Greek: Μία λέξη μας απελευθερώνει από όλο το βάρος και τον πόνο στη ζωή. Και αυτή η λέξη είναι: αγάπη.
• Romanization: Miα léxi mas apeleftheróni apó ólo to város ke ton póno sti zoí. Ke aftí i léxi íne: agápi.
• Translation: “One word sets us free from all the weight and the pain in life. And that word is: love.”

This one is attributed to Sophocles, who was definitely another ancient Greek romantic. Sophocles was one of the three tragedians of ancient Greece, and his plays have survived to this day. 

6.2 Greek Proverbs About Love

The concept of love has also influenced modern Greeks, who have shaped Greek folk wisdom. With that in mind, here are two of the most popular Greek proverbs about love:

• Greek: Αγάπη χωρίς πείσματα δεν έχει νοστιμάδα.
• Romanization: Agápi horís pízmata den éhi nostimada. 
• Translation: “Love without a bit of stubborness isn’t tasteful.”

• Greek: Εμείς μαζί δεν κάνουμε και χώρια δεν μπορούμε.
• Romanization: Emís mazí den kánume ke hória den borúme.
• Translation: “We can’t live with each other, neither can we live without one another.”

7. Conclusion

All in all, Greeks are loving and caring people. So, don’t hesitate to express your feelings—especially now that you know how to do so. Just use the most appropriate phrases from this article to take your relationship to the next level.

Do you want to learn more expressions and listen to their pronunciation? Then visit our list of Words and Phrases to Help You Describe Your Feelings! 

GreekPod101.com is dedicated to offering you a wide range of vocabulary learning resources, focusing on words and expressions used in everyday life. We aim to combine practical knowledge about the language, culture, and local customs in order to create a well-rounded approach to language learning. 

Start learning Greek today in a consistent and organized manner by creating a free lifetime account on GreekPod101.com. Tons of free vocabulary lists, YouTube videos, and grammar tips are waiting for you to discover them! 

Before you go, let us know in the comments about your favorite Greek phrase about love. We look forward to hearing your thoughts.

Do you often feel lonely and sad? Do you long for romance and are willing to do whatever it takes to meet that special person? Speaking another language could revolutionize your love life! So, why wait? Learning how to say ‘love’ in Greek could be just what you need to find it.

Or perhaps you were lucky, and have found your Greek partner already. Fantastic! Yet, a cross-cultural relationship comes with unique challenges. Learning how to speak your lover’s language will greatly improve your communication and enhance the relationship. At GreekPod101, our team will teach you all the words, quotes and phrases you need to woo your Greek lover with excellence! Our tutors provide personal assistance, with plenty of extra material available to make Greek dating easy for you.

Table of Contents

1. Common Phrases You’ll Need for a Date
2. The Most Romantic Ideas for a Date
3. Must-know Valentine’s Day Vocabulary
4. Greek Love Phrases for Valentine’s Day
5. Greek Quotes about Love
6. Marriage Proposal Lines
7. 15 Most Common Break-Up Lines
8. Will Falling in Love Help You Learn Greek Faster?

Start with a bonus, and download the ‘How To be a Good Lover Cheat Sheet’ for FREE! (Logged-In Member Only)

1. Common Phrases You’ll Need for a Date

So, you have met your Greek love interest. Congratulations! Who knows where this could take you…?! However, the two of you have just met and you’re not ready to say the Greek word for love just yet. Great, it is better to get to know him/her first. Wow your prospective love by using these Greek date phrases to set up a spectacular first date.

Would you like to go out to dinner with me?

• Θα ήθελες να βγούμε έξω για δείπνο;
• Tha ítheles na vgúme éxo ya dípno?

The important question! In most cultures, this phrase indicates: ‘I’m romantically interested in you’. Flirting in Greek is no different, so don’t take your date to Mcdonald’s!

Are you free this weekend?

• Είσαι ελεύθερος αυτό το Σαββατοκύριακο;
• Íse eléftheros aftó to Sabatokíriako?

This is a preamble to asking your love interest on a date. If you get an immediate ‘Yes’, that’s good news!

What time shall we meet tomorrow?

• Τι ώρα να συναντηθούμε αύριο;
• Ti óra na sinandithúme ávrio?

Set a time, and be sure to arrive early! Nothing spoils a potential relationship more than a tardy date.

Where shall we meet?

• Πού να συναντηθούμε;
• Pú na sinandithúme?

You can ask this, but also suggest a place.

You look great.

• Δείχνεις πολύ ωραίος.
• Díhnis polí oréos.

A wonderful ice breaker! This phrase will help them relax a bit – they probably took great care to look their best just for you.

You are so cute.

• Είσαι τόσο χαριτωμένος.
• Íse tóso haritoménos.

If the two of you are getting on really well, this is a fun, flirtatious phrase to use.

What do you think of this place?

• Τι γνώμη έχεις γι’ αυτό το μέρος;
• Ti gnómi éhis yi’ aftó to méros?

This another good conversation starter. Show off your Greek language skills!

Can I see you again?

• Μπορώ να σε ξαναδώ;
• Boró na se xanadó?

So the date went really well – don’t waste time! Make sure you will see each other again.

Shall we go somewhere else?

• Θες να πάμε κάπου αλλού;
• Thes na páme kápu alú?

If the place you meet at is not great, you can suggest going elsewhere. It is also a good question to follow the previous one. Variety is the spice of life!

I know a good place.

• Ξέρω ένα καλό μέρος.
• Xéro éna kaló méros.

Use this with the previous question. However, don’t say if you don’t know a good place!

I will drive you home.

• Θα σε πάω σπίτι.
• Tha se páo spíti.

If your date doesn’t have transport, this is a polite, considerate offer. However, don’t be offended if she/he turns you down on the first date. Especially a woman might not feel comfortable letting you drive her home when the two of you are still basically strangers.

That was a great evening.

• Ήταν μια ωραία βραδιά.
• Ítan mia oréa vradiá.

This is a good phrase to end the evening with.

When can I see you again?

• Πότε μπορώ να σε ξαναδώ;
• Póte boró na se xanadó?

If he/she replied ‘Yes’ to ‘Can I see you again?’, this is the next important question.

I’ll call you.

• Θα σε πάρω τηλέφωνο.
• Tha se páro tiléfono.

Say this only if you really mean to do it. In many cultures, this could imply that you’re keeping the proverbial backdoor open.

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2. The Most Romantic Ideas for a Date

You learned all the Greek phrases to make a date – congratulations! Now you have to decide where to meet, which can be tricky. Discuss these options with your lover to gauge whether you like the same things. Check out romantic date ideas in Greek below!

museum

• μουσείο
• musío

If you’re looking for unique date ideas that are fun but won’t break the bank, museums are the perfect spot! You won’t be running out of things to say in the conversations.

candlelit dinner

• δείπνο με κεριά
• dípno me keriá

A candlelit dinner is perhaps best to reserve for when the relationship is getting serious. It’s very intimate, and says: “Romance!” It’s a fantastic choice if you’re sure you and your date are in love with each other!

go to the zoo

• πηγαίνετε στον ζωολογικό κήπο
• piyénete ston zooloyikó kípo

This is a good choice for shy lovers who want to get the conversation going. Just make sure your date likes zoos, as some people dislike them. Maybe not for the first date, but this is also a great choice if your lover has children – you’ll win his/her adoration for inviting them along!

go for a long walk

• πηγαίνετε για έναν μεγάλο περίπατο
• piyénete ya énan megálo perípato

Need to talk about serious stuff, or just want to relax with your date? Walking together is soothing, and a habit you can keep up together always! Just make sure it’s a beautiful walk that’s not too strenuous.

go to the opera

• πήγαινε στην όπερα
• píyene stin ópera

This type of date should only be attempted if both of you love the opera. It can be a special treat, followed by a candlelit dinner!

go to the aquarium

• πηγαίνετε στο ενυδρείο
• piyénete sto enidrío

Going to the aquarium is another good idea if you need topics for conversation, or if you need to impress your lover’s kids! Make sure your date doesn’t have a problem with aquariums.

walk on the beach

• περπατήστε στην παραλία
• perpatíste stin paralía

This can be a very romantic stroll, especially at night! The sea is often associated with romance and beauty.

have a picnic

• κάντε ένα πικ νικ
• kánde éna pik ník

If you and your date need to get more comfortable together, this can be a fantastic date. Spending time in nature is soothing and calms the nerves.

cook a meal together

• μαγειρέψτε ένα γεύμα μαζί
• mayirépste éna yévma mazí

If you want to get an idea of your date’s true character in one go, this is an excellent date! You will quickly see if the two of you can work together in a confined space. If it works, it will be fantastic for the relationship and create a sense of intimacy. If not, you will probably part ways!

have dinner and see a movie

• δειπνήστε και δείτε μια ταινία
• dipníste ke díte mia tenía

This is traditional date choice works perfectly well. Just make sure you and your date like the same kind of movies!

3. Must-know Valentine’s Day Vocabulary

Expressing your feelings honestly is very important in any relationship all year round. Yet, on Valentine’s Day you really want to shine. Impress your lover this Valentine’s with your excellent vocabulary, and make his/her day! We teach you, in fun, effective ways, the meanings of the words and how to pronounce them. You can also copy the characters and learn how to write ‘I love you’ in Greek – think how impressed your date will be!

4. Greek Love Phrases for Valentine’s Day

So, you now have the basic Valentine’s Day vocabulary under your belt. Well done! But, do you know how to say ‘I love you’ in Greek yet? Or perhaps you are still only friends. So, do you know how to say ‘I like you’ or ‘I have a crush on you’ in Greek? No? Don’t worry, here are all the love phrases you need to bowl over your Greek love on this special day!

I love you.

• Σ’ αγαπώ.
• S’ agapó

Saying ‘I love you’ in Greek carries the same weight as in all languages. Use this only if you’re sure and sincere about your feelings for your partner/friend.

You mean so much to me.

• Σημαίνεις τόσα πολλά για μένα.
• Siménis tósa polá ya ména.

This is a beautiful expression of gratitude that will enhance any relationship! It makes the receiver feel appreciated and their efforts recognized.

Will you be my Valentine?

• Θες να γίνεις ο Βαλεντίνος μου;
• Thes na yínis o Valentínos mu?

With these words, you are taking your relationship to the next level! Or, if you have been a couple for a while, it shows that you still feel the romance. So, go for it!

You’re so beautiful.

• Είσαι τόσο όμορφος.
• Íse tóso ómorfos.

If you don’t know how to say ‘You’re pretty’ in Greek, this is a good substitute, gentlemen!

I think of you as more than a friend.

• Σε βλέπω σαν κάτι παραπάνω από φίλο.
• Se vlépo san káti parapáno apó fílo.

Say this if you are not yet sure that your romantic feelings are reciprocated. It is also a safe go-to if you’re unsure about the Greek dating culture.

A hundred hearts would be too few to carry all my love for you.

• Εκατό καρδιές θα ήταν πολύ λίγες για να κρατήσουν όλη την αγάπη μου για σένα.
• Ekató kardiés tha ítan polí líyes ya na kratísun óli tin agápi mu ya séna.

You romantic you…! When your heart overflows with love, this would be the best phrase to use.

Love is just love. It can never be explained.

• Η αγάπη είναι απλώς αγάπη. Δεν μπορεί να εξηγηθεί ποτέ.
• I agápi íne aplós agápi. Den borí na exiyithí poté.

If you fell in love unexpectedly or inexplicably, this one’s for you.

You’re so handsome.

• Είσαι τόσο γοητευτικός.
• Íse tóso goiteftikós.

Ladies, this phrase lets your Greek love know how much you appreciate his looks! Don’t be shy to use it; men like compliments too.

I’ve got a crush on you.

• Έχω καψούρα μαζί σου.
• Ého kapsúra mazí su.

If you like someone, but you’re unsure about starting a relationship, it would be prudent to say this. It simply means that you like someone very, very much and think they’re amazing.

You make me want to be a better man.

• Με κάνεις να θέλω να γίνω καλύτερος άνθρωπος.
• Me kánis na thélo na yíno kalíteros ánthropos.

Gentlemen, don’t claim this phrase as your own! It hails from the movie ‘As Good as it Gets’, but it is sure to make your Greek girlfriend feel very special. Let her know that she inspires you!

Let all that you do be done in love.

• Όλα όσα λέγετε και κάνετε ας γίνονται με αγάπη.
• Óla ósa léyete ke kánete as yínonde me agápi.

We hope.

You are my sunshine, my love.

• Είσαι το φως μου, αγάπη μου.
• Íse to fos mu, agápi mu.

A compliment that lets your lover know they bring a special quality to your life. Really nice!

Words can’t describe my love for you.

• Οι λέξεις δεν μπορούν να περιγράψουν την αγάπη μου για σένα.
• I léxis den borún na perigrápsun tin agápi mu ya séna.

Better say this when you’re feeling serious about the relationship! It means that your feelings are very intense.

We were meant to be together.

• Ήταν γραφτό να είμαστε μαζί.
• Ítan graftó na ímaste mazí.

This is a loving affirmation that shows you see a future together, and that you feel a special bond with your partner.

If you were thinking about someone while reading this, you’re definitely in love.

• Αν σκεφτόσουν κάποιον ενώ διάβαζες αυτό, τότε είσαι σίγουρα ερωτευμένος.
• An skeftósun kápion enó diávazes aftó, tóte íse sígura erotevménos.

Here’s something fun to tease your lover with. And hope he/she was thinking of you!

5. Greek Quotes about Love

You’re a love champ! You and your Greek lover are getting along fantastically, your dates are awesome, your Valentine’s Day together was spectacular, and you’re very much in love. Good for you! Here are some beautiful phrases of endearment in Greek that will remind him/her who is in your thoughts all the time.

6. Marriage Proposal Lines

Wow. Your Greek lover is indeed the love of your life – congratulations! And may only happiness follow the two of you! In most traditions, the man asks the woman to marry; this is also the Greek custom. Here are a few sincere and romantic lines that will help you to ask your lady-love for her hand in marriage.

7. 15 Most Common Break-Up Lines

Instead of moving towards marriage or a long-term relationship, you find that the spark is not there for you. That is a pity! But even though breaking up is never easy, continuing a bad or unfulfilling relationship would be even harder. Remember to be kind to the person you are going to say goodbye to; respect and sensitivity cost nothing. Here are some phrases to help you break up gently.

We need to talk.

• Πρέπει να μιλήσουμε.
• Prépi na milísume.

This is not really a break-up line, but it is a good conversation opener with a serious tone.

I’m just not ready for this kind of relationship.

• Απλά δεν είμαι έτοιμη για μια τέτοιου είδους σχέση.
• Aplá den íme étimi ya mia tétiu ídus schési.

Things moved a bit fast and got too intense, too soon? Painful as it is, honesty is often the best way to break up with somebody.

Let’s just be friends.

• Ας μείνουμε απλά φίλοι.
• As mínume aplá fíli.

If the relationship was very intense, and you have sent many ‘i love u’ texts in Greek, this would not be a good breakup line. Feelings need to calm down before you can be friends, if ever. If the relationship has not really developed yet, a friendship would be possible.

I think we need a break.

• Νομίζω ότι χρειαζόμαστε ένα διάλειμμα.
• Nomízo óti hriazómaste éna diálima.

This is again honest, and to the point. No need to play with someone’s emotions by not letting them know how you feel. However, this could imply that you may fall in love with him/her again after a period of time, so use with discretion.

You deserve better.

• Σου αξίζει κάτι καλύτερο.
• Su axízi káti kalítero.

Yes, he/she probably deserves a better relationship if your own feelings have cooled down.

I need my space.

• Χρειάζομαι μια απόσταση.
• Hriázome mia apóstasi.

When a person is too clingy or demanding, this would be an suitable break-up phrase. It is another good go-to for that lover who doesn’t get the message!

I think we’re moving too fast.

• Νομίζω ότι προχωράμε πολύ γρήγορα.
• Nomízo óti prohoráme polí grígora.

Say this if you want to keep the relationship, but need to slow down its progress a bit. It is also good if you feel things are getting too intense for your liking. However, it is not really a break-up line, so be careful not to mislead.

I need to focus on my career.

• Πρέπει να επικεντρωθώ στην καριέρα μου.
• Prépi na epikendrothó stin kariéra mu.

If you feel that you will not be able to give 100% in a relationship due to career demands, this is the phrase to use. It’s also good if you are unwilling to give up your career for a relationship.

I’m not good enough for you.

• Δεν είμαι αρκετή για σένα.
• Den íme arketí ya séna.

Say this only if you really believe it, or you’ll end up sounding false. Break-ups are usually hard for the receiving party, so don’t insult him/her with an insincere comment.

I just don’t love you anymore.

• Απλώς δεν σ’ αγαπώ πια.
• Aplós den s’ agapó pia.

This harsh line is sometimes the best one to use if you are struggling to get through to a stubborn, clingy lover who won’t accept your break up. Use it as a last resort. Then switch your phone off and block their emails!

We’re just not right for each other.

• Απλώς δεν είμαστε ο ένας για τον άλλον.
• Aplós den ímaste o énas ya ton álon.

If this is how you truly feel, you need to say it. Be kind, gentle and polite.

It’s for the best.

• Είναι για το καλύτερο.
• Íne ya to kalítero.

This phrase is called for if circumstances are difficult and the relationship is not progressing well. Love should enhance one’s life, not burden it!

We’ve grown apart.

• Έχουμε απομακρυνθεί ο ένας απ’ τον άλλον.
• Éhume apomakrinthí o énas ap’ ton álon.

Cross-cultural relationships are often long-distance ones, and it is easy to grow apart over time.

It’s not you. It’s me.

• Δεν έχει να κάνει με σένα, έχει να κάνει με μένα.
• Den éhi na káni me séna, éhi na káni me ména.

As long as you mean it, this can be a kind thing to say. It means that there’s nothing wrong with your Greek lover as a person, but that you need something different from a relationship.

We should start seeing other people.

• Πρέπει να αρχίσουμε να βγαίνουμε με άλλους.
• Prépi na arhísume na vyénume me álus.

This is probably the least gentle break-up phrase, so reserve it for a lover that doesn’t get the message!

8. Will Falling in Love help you Learn Greek faster?

Most people will agree that the above statement is a no-brainer – of course it will! Your body will be flooded with feel-good hormones, which are superb motivators for anything. GreekPod101 is one of the best portals to help help make this a reality, so don’t hesitate to enroll now! Let’s quickly look at the reasons why falling in love will speed up your learning of the Greek language.

Three Reasons Why Having a Lover will Help you Learn Greek Faster!

1- Being in a love relationship with your Greek speaking partner will immerse you in the culture
GreekPod101 uses immersive methods and tools to teach you Greek, but having a relationship with a native speaker will be a very valuable addition to your learning experience! You will gain exposure to their world, realtime and vividly, which will make the language come alive even more for you. The experience is likely to expand your world-view, which should motivate you to learn Greek even faster.

2- Having your Greek romantic partner will mean more opportunity to practice speaking
Nothing beats continuous practice when learning a new language. Your partner will probably be very willing to assist you in this, as your enhanced Greek language skills will enhance the relationship. Communication is, after all, one of the most important pillars of a good partnership. Also, you will get to impress your lover with the knowledge gained through your studies – a win/win situation!

3- A supportive Greek lover is likely to make a gentle, patient teacher and study aid!
With his/her heart filled with love and goodwill for you, your Greek partner is likely to patiently and gently correct your mistakes when you speak. This goes not only for grammar, but also for accent and meaning. With his/her help, you could sound like a native in no time!

Three Reasons Why GreekPod101 helps you learn Greek Even Faster when you’re In Love

Start with a bonus, and download the ‘How To be a Good Lover Cheat Sheet’ for FREE! (Logged-In Member Only)

1- All the Resources and Materials Will Help Both of You
Falling in love with a man or woman speaking Greek is an opportunity for both of you to learn a new language! For this reason, every lesson, transcript, vocabulary list, and resource at GreekPod101 is translated into both English and Greek. So, while your partner can help you learn Greek faster, you can potentially also help him/her learn and master English!

2- Lessons Are Designed to Help You Understand and Engage with Greek Culture
At GreekPod101, our focus is to help our students learn practical vocabulary and phrases used by everyday people in Greece. This means that, from your very first lesson, you can apply what you learn immediately! So, when your Greek partner wants to go out to a restaurant, play Pokemon Go, or attend just about any social function, you have the vocabulary and phrases necessary to have a great time!

3- Access to Special Resources Dedicated to Romantic Greek Phrases
You now have access to GreekPod101’s specially-developed sections and tools to teach you love words, phrases, and cultural insights to help you find and attract your Greek soul mate. A personal tutor will assist you to master these brilliantly – remember to invite him/her to your wedding!

A while ago, I tallied up the Latin words for kill. Today I’m doing something different: I’ll be studying the Greek words for love. Can I hear an “aww” from the audience? Or… was that a sigh of impatience?

Because to be honest, I’m tired of people talking about the Greek words for love.  It’s a staple of church sermons, and I think in the course of time a lot of misconceptions have developed around the Greek words. Etymology (or often folk-etymology) is one of the oldest rhetorical devices for moving into a meditative discussion of the “real”, “true” or “original” concepts behind words. Talking about the concepts is good, but I’d like it if people made less fudgey mistakes about the language in the process. What I take issue with is the unwary and unthinking focus on the exact meanings of individual words outside of their context. And the endless talk of two Greek verbs for love, agapaō and phileō, is possibly the most meticulously bungled case of them all.

Because no matter what language you speak, love makes more sense in context than on a vocab list. Let’s explore.

Greek biblical texts

Because of time constraints, and because the biblical texts are mostly what people will want to apply the meanings of “love” to, I’ll be looking at the Septuagint (aka the LXX, a Greek translation of the Old Testament used in the time of the apostles) and the Greek New Testament.[1]

How many Greek words are there for love?

Anyone who googles “how many Greek words are there for love?” will get a range of numbers between about three and seven, but most commonly four. The list always includes the nouns agapē and philia (which form the verbs agapaō and phileō, respectively). Agapē is styled as the most god-like love and philia is considered the human love or in some way a lesser love.

The next most common nouns on the list (or verbs; sometimes people mix the two) are erōs and storgē. Erōs is usually used to say what agapē and philia cannot be – erōs is described as the sexual love, the lustful love. It’s an odd choice in the discussion of biblical love concepts, though, because as we will later see, biblical Greek uses other words instead of erōs when it talks about lust, sometimes even agapē and agapaō (if you interpret Amnon’s incestuous love for his beautiful half-sister as “lust”).[2] In fact, erōs does not appear at all in the New Testament and only appears twice in the LXX.[3] Storgē (sometimes misspelled storgy) is also an interesting choice, because it is never used in the NT or the LXX, except in two compound adjectives astorgos (“callous, un-loving”, which appears twice)[4] and philostorgos (“deeply loving”, which appears once).[5] To the list compilers, though, a word in Greek must be precious even if it is irrelevant, so they usually include it and say that storgē is the love of parents for their children, or more broadly a kind of familial love.

There is a likely reason why the list is so often four items long, and so often contains erōs and storgē. The “four loves” may not be found in the bible but they are featured in C. S. Lewis’ highly acclaimed book, “The Four Loves”.

“The Four Loves” was a philosophical and meditative study on the types of love Lewis felt he could describe and experience. The work is complex and subtle: Lewis talks about a lot more than just four loves in “The Four Loves” through his exploration of need-love and gift-love, and various other qualities that make various loves more or less suited to different relationships. The Greek terms philia, erōs and storgē appear in the book, but it seems that Lewis uses these terms for convenience’s sake as much as anything, and he uses Latin terms such as amicitia and “Venus” as well. Summaries of “The Four Loves” frequently trivialise most of what Lewis says about the types of love he investigated, flattening each of the loves into stereotypes that would have the man roll in his grave.

Whatever else appears on the “Greek words for love” lists, seems to be a kind of mix-and-match of a few other Greek nouns or verbs or adjectives used as love or affection or goodwill or desire or madness – epithumia, eleos, thelēma, eunoia, mania, hēssaomai, hetairos (that’s not a word for love), aphroditios (belonging-to-Aphrodite? Seriously?), and so on and so forth. The most significant of these “other” words is epithumia, because it is a fairly common word for “desire” in the New Testament. There isn’t any further point to defining the rest of the Greek words for love, since they don’t occur very often in the texts under investigation. Let’s ditch the dictionary-style approach and turn to looking at the situational usage of words for love.

Situations where the words for “love” may be used

The words for love can turn in several different contexts. Where each word gets used will give us a clue as to the range of meanings it can have. This isn’t an exhaustive list of what the words for “love” could mean, and some of these categories blur into each other. But for now it should give a good sense of how stretchy semantics can be. So let’s review some of the situations where a word for “love” could be inserted into the passage:

1. The love between persons who have romantic attraction
2. Lustful and harmful desire (in the form of vice lists)
3. Love of concepts, actions or things – love of wisdom, love of folly, love of eternal things, love of material things
4. Commands for Christians to love our neighbours and love God
5. Love of God for his people
6. The love that God the Father shows to the Son

Now that we’ve outlined the categories, I’ll show you the results of what meanings each verb can cover, in table form.

Actual usages of “love” in biblical Greek

If a number is shaded in, that means that the verb was used that way at least once in biblical literature.

Agapaō and phileō are the most common verbs for love in the LXX and the NT. The semantic range of each of these verbs is very similar, and in most cases (including those situations involving God’s love) they can be used interchangeably. The fact that they can also be used in situations of romantic interest doesn’t necessarily mean that they must have this connotation outside of that context. Rather, context does a much better job at explaining what kind of “love” is meant.

The next most common verb for love is epithumeō, a verb which is usually translated as “to have desire for”.

Epithumeō can be used in both a positive and a negative sense. In the positive sense, it represents a desire for something which is good; in the negative sense it is a desire for something not good. It isn’t used in any of the times where the writer exhorts the audience to love one another or to love God, nor is it used of God loving anything.

The verbs storgeō and eraō are not used in the NT or in the LXX. However, erōs, the noun, does appear twice in the LXX with the negative connotation of “lust”.[6] These minor words will be excluded from the survey.

The pattern which emerges from this is essentially that agapaō and phileō, the most common verbs for love, are both used in a wide variety of circumstances, with both positive and negative connotations. Moreover, their meanings overlap each other, such that they have pretty much the same semantic range. In fact agapaō and phileō have a lot more in common with each other than they do with any of the other verbs for love.

In the following sections, I’ll show you where these meanings for “love” were found.

1. The love between persons who have romantic attraction

Words used: agapaō, phileō, epithumeō.

In each of the following cases, a word for love was used in situations which obviously have some sort of romantic interest, whether it was for good or for bad. Song of Songs mainly used agapaō with one instance of epithumeō to describe the dynamic between the lover and the beloved. The sad soap opera that played out between Jacob, Rachel and Leah used agapaō as the verb for love. Even the disastrous love affair of Samson and Delilah used agapaō as the verb to denote their affection. Tobit uses phileō to describe his feelings for his wife when he found out who he was going to marry.

Quoted passage	Word for love used
(Song of Songs 2:3) I desired his shadow, and sat down, and his fruit was sweet in my throat.	epithumeō
(Song of Songs 2:4) He brought me to the banqueting house, // and his intention toward me was love.	agapē
(Gen 29:18-32) Jacob loved Rachel; so he said “I will serve you seven years for your younger daughter Rachel.” …  So Jacob went in to Rachel also, and he loved Rachel more than Leah. … Leah conceived and bore a son, and she named him Reuben; for she said, “Because the Lord has looked on my affliction, surely now my husband will love me.”	agapaō
(Judges 16:4-15) After this, he [Samson] fell in love with a woman in the valley of Sorek, whose name was Delilah. … Then she said to him, “How can you say, ‘I love you,’ when your heart is not with me? You have mocked me three times now and have not told me what makes your strength so great.”	agapaō
(Tob 6:19) When Tobias heard the words of Raphael and learned that she was his kinswoman, related through his father’s lineage, he loved her very much, and his heart was drawn to her.	phileō

But there is a much more tragic use of the word “love” in the tale of Amnon and Tamar. To me this is perhaps the saddest of all the various catastrophes and royal crimes committed in David’s house. The prince Amnon was seized with love for his half-sister Tamar, a love that was incestuous and violent. When eventually he tricked Tamar into his bedroom alone, he raped her, and it was said that his hate for her exceeded his incestuous lovey-lust. Throughout this passage Amnon’s “love” was called agapē. (Amnon got his comeuppance, as his half-brother Absalom killed him in revenge soon afterwards, but it’s still a tragic story for Tamar.)

Quoted passage	Word for love used
(2 Sam 13:1-4) David’s son Absalom had a beautiful sister whose name was Tamar, and David’s son Amnon fell in love with her. … Amnon said to him, “I love Tamar, my brother Absalom’s sister.”	agapaō
(2 Sam 13:15) Then Amnon was seized with a very great loathing for her; indeed, his loathing was even greater than the lust he had felt for her.	agapē

2. Lustful and harmful desire (in the form of vice lists)

Words used: epithumeō, and a wide range of others.

As said earlier, most people who think of the Greek word for sexual love will generally think of erōs. However, the word almost never appears in the bible, and classical uses of erōs don’t limit it to just meaning the lust of the body.[7] Instead, the biblical writers used other words like epithumia/epithumeō (desire). In longer lists, the writers used many more words to denote various kinds of vice that had a sexual tinge.

Quoted passage	Word for love used
(Matt 5:28) But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart.	epithumeō
(Col 3:5) Put to death, therefore, whatever in you is earthly: fornication, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed (which is idolatry).	porneia (fornication) akatharsia (impurity) pathos (passion) epithumia kakē (bad desire)

3. Love of concepts, actions or things

Words used: agapaō, phileō, epithumeō, thelō

This is the broad category for love of things which aren’t people. Loving something which is good, like wisdom, is a good thing, while loving something bad, like folly, is bad. Some things which you can love (like tasty food) are indifferent, neither good in themselves nor bad, but it depends on the situation. It seems that agapaō, phileō and epithumeō can all be used to denote love of non-person entities, whether they are good, neutral or bad. But epithumeō, more than the other two verbs, implies a kind of desirous craving.

I’ve divided this section into five subcategories:  love of wisdom, folly, status, material things, and food.

3.a Love of wisdom

Quoted passage	Word for love used
(Prov 12:1) Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge	agapaō
(Prov 8:17) (the personification of Wisdom is speaking in the first person) I love those who love me	agapaō (for Wisdom’s love)phileō (for “those who love Wisdom”)
(Wisdom 6:11) Therefore set your desire on my words; // long for them, and you will be instructed.	epithumeō

3.b Love of folly

Quoted passage	Word for love used
(Ps 52:4, or Ps 51:5 in the LXX) You love evil rather than good, // falsehood rather than speaking the truth.	agapaō
(Ps 4:3) How long will you love delusions and seek false gods?	agapaō
(Rev 22:15) …everyone who loves and practices falsehood.	phileō

3.c Love of status

Quoted passage	Word for love used
(Luke 11:43) “Woe to you Pharisees, because you love the most important seats in the synagogues and respectful greetings in the marketplaces.”	agapaō
(Luke 20:46) “Beware of the teachers of the law. They like to walk around in flowing robes and love to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces and have the most important seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at banquets.”	thelō (“wish, want”, translated here as “like”)phileō (translated as “love”)

3.d Love of material things

Quoted passage	Word for love used
(Ecclesiastes 5:10) Whoever loves money never has enough; // whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with their income.	agapaō
(Deuteronomy 14:26) Use the silver to buy whatever you desire: cattle, sheep, wine or other fermented drink, or anything you desire.	epithumeō (used in a neutral sense)

3.e Love of food

Quoted passage	Word for love used
(Gen 27:4-9) “Prepare me the kind of tasty food I like and bring it to me to eat…”… “Go out to the flock and bring me two choice young goats, so I can prepare some tasty food for your father, just the way he likes it.”	phileō (used in a neutral sense)
(Prov 23:3) Do not crave his delicacies, // for that food is deceptive.	epithumeō

4. Commands for Christians to love our neighbours and love God

Words used: agapaō, phileō

The exhortations to love are some of the most powerful verses in scripture for Christians living today. In sermons, this is the point where the speaker is the most likely to claim that love is only called agapē, mainly because the speaker wants to make the point about the importance and selflessness of true, good love. This is well-intentioned, but unfortunately not entirely accurate, as Paul urged his fellow believers to love each other using the imperative of phileō. Paul also made a very pointed remark at the end of one of his other letters, (he was probably frustrated by all the Corinthian church problems he had to advise about in the rest of the letter) basically saying anyone who doesn’t love (phileō) the Lord should be an anathema.

Quoted passage	Word for love used
(Mark 12:30-31, quoting Lev 19:18) ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’… ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’	agapaō
(Romans 12:10) Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves.	phileō
(1 Corinthians 16:21-2) (this is the end of a long letter in which he had to deal with a lot of heresy, so it’s understandable that he was quite frustrated) I, Paul, write this greeting with my own hand. If anyone has no love for the Lord, let him be accursed. … The grace of the Lord Jesus be with you.	phileō

5. God’s love for humanity

Words used: agapaō, phileō

The love God shows for humanity is most often, in sermons, said to be agapē (noun) or agapaō (verb). Usually this is connected to the above point – agapē is the selfless love that God has, while phileō is a kind of lesser love (strangely, people usually supply phileō the verb, alongside agapē, the noun – maybe they just sound better that way). But while agapaō is certainly a more common verb and is more commonly used to denote God loving human beings, there are instances where phileō is used in the same place to mean more or less the same thing. John is particularly interested in the love that God shows for humanity, and he switches agapaō around with phileō in two very similar verses. The quotes from Hebrews (or properly Proverbs) and Revelation are even more strikingly similar, and they freely switch agapaō and phileō around.

Quoted passage	Word for love used
(John 3:16) For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.	agapaō
(John 16:27) the Father himself loves you because you have loved me and have believed that I came from God.	phileō
(Heb 12:6, quoting from Prov. 3:11,12) the Lord disciplines the one he loves, // and he chastens everyone he accepts as his son.	agapaō
(Rev 3:19) Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline.	phileō

6. The love that God the Father shows to the Son

Words used: agapaō, phileō, eudokeō

Surprisingly, in this section I actually had more trouble trying to find an example where God the Father loved the Son using agapaō rather than phileō. The best I could come across was an adjective formed from agapaō, which was agapētos, or “beloved”. Since this is the kind of love which one member of the Godhead has for another member of the Godhead, this has got to be pretty much the most Godly of Godly kinds of love. And John evidently found it acceptable to use phileō in this instance.

Quoted passage	Word for love used
(Matthew 3:17 ) “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.”	agapētos (beloved, from agapaō)eudokeō (to be well pleased [with someone])
(John 5:20) For the Father loves the Son and shows him all that he himself is doing.	phileō

Conclusions

The more you read Ancient Greek, English, Latin, or any language, the more you start to appreciate the semantic range of the most common words. Phileō, a verb for love, could be used to describe the love that God the Father had for God the Son. The same word, in another context, could simply mean “I like food.” The sentences “Samson loved Delilah” and “Amnon loved Tamar” could use agapaō, even though these were tragic and foolish loves, and Amnon’s love was perverted. That didn’t ruin agapaō, or make it unacceptable to use in other situations; agapaō was simply the word for loving. It was too common and too useful to get negative connotations from occasionally being used in negative circumstances. Thus it was just as acceptable to use agapaō for the intense couple-love in Song of Songs and the more fundamental love implied in the command, “Love thy neighbour”.

The net result is that you can’t understand a language from vocab lists alone. You have to have an ear and an eye out for contextual information.

Of all the human emotions, love is the most powerful. Fear, anger, ambition, greed, and lust all have their pull, but they all play second fiddle to love. A parent will brave their worst fear, a friend will drive five hours, a brother will give up his job, a spouse will chain their lust — all for love. Love is what beats back the sad, lonely, and bitter in the world. A life without love can never be complete.

But, for such a great and prodigious thing, love is blurry, vague, and indefinite. One problem is that each of us will experience love a certain way, and we have no possible way by which to tell if others are feeling the same. Shakespeare’s love, Beyoncé’s love, and your love might overlap in essential ways, but they can appear utterly dissonant in others. We can never go on a field trip into someone’s mind to see what “love” means to them.

The second issue with love is just how broadly we use the term. We love our romantic partners, but we also love a pet, a book, a movie, God (or gods), or the sound of someone’s voice. There’s nothing so painful to the teenager’s ears as, “I love you — as a friend.” Friend zone love. Ouch.

So, how are we to unpack love? Most major traditions spend a great deal of time exploring it. The Greeks have at least four words for love; Arabic has 11. The Baha’i faith recognizes four types of love; Hindus have five. But, very broadly, we can identify three trends to how different cultures understand “love.”

Sacrificial love

In Mark 12:31, it’s written that Jesus said, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” It’s one of the most famous and most quoted lines of Christian doctrine of the last two millennia. But what did he mean by that? In the original Greek of the New Testament, there are a great many words for love. The one that Jesus chose was agape.

Agape is a sacrificial love, utterly free of ego or self-interest. It’s the kind of love that cherishes another human being simply because they’re a fellow human being. In other words, agape is a kind of well-wishing that offers up every possible benefit to a person because it recognizes that they are worthy of flourishing.

When Jesus also says that we are to love our enemies, he again uses agape. Using this understanding, he means that you are to wish the best for other people, even if you don’t particularly like them. Martin Luther King, Jr. hammers this point home in his book Strength to Love: “We should be happy that he did not say, ‘Like your enemies.’ It is almost impossible to like some people.”

In Hindu and Buddhist traditions, a similar idea is found in the word maitrī. Maitrī is translated as “loving-kindness,” which means treating other people as if they are worthy of your care. Maitrī is not so much “compassion” or an ethical action, but more of a disposition toward people. It’s the opposite of bitterness, cynicism, spite, and competitiveness. Like agape, it’s wishing the best for someone else.

A labor of love

For a lot of us, when we engage in certain activities, it can feel a lot like love. When someone says, “I love hiking,” or, “I love painting,” it’s not so easy to dismiss as simply a turn of phrase. There are some activities that can evoke such passion and can transport you to some special place, that we need a word to capture that feeling.

Of course, the Greeks have one: meraki. Meraki is when you invest your soul into an activity or hobby. It might occur when cooking a meal or playing the guitar, and the feeling of meraki borders on euphoria. It’s why, for many people, there can be a peculiar sense of grief when they come to the end of something.

For instance, as you close a book for the last time, knowing you will never again meet those characters and share their story, it can feel like you’ve lost something. You have invested so much of yourself into the story that, when it’s over, it can feel a lot like heartbreak. The same is true at the end of an artwork, a marathon, or even a work project. Meraki is why athletes cry like babies after they win (or lose) an important match. Meraki is doing a thing with love.

I love you

But, when most people think about “love,” they don’t tend to think of maitrī or meraki. The hundreds of thousands of songs, sonnets, and soliloquies out there about “love” are not devoted to the love of hobbies. Whitney Houston did not sing about her love of collecting teapots. For most people, love is the romantic kind. It’s that of boyfriends, girlfriends, sex, and eros. (There’s another Greek word.)

In Arabic, there are said to be 11 “stages” of love. First, you have simple attraction (hawa) — the look across a bar or the smile on the subway. In the early throes of infatuation (kalaf), you obsess over one another. You spend all your time together, and the bed is your home. Soon you become enslaved to your partner (taym). Your heart is theirs, and never before have you been so vulnerable. Finally, love matures into a kind of insanity (huyum) where all reason is abandoned. Love, passion, and adoration are all that matter to you.

For Plato, eros (the erotic desire for someone) is only the first, immature step toward love. The love of a body — of sex and physical beauty — is a “vulgar” love. True or “pure” love is that which sees behind the façade. It recognizes the essence of someone — the bit which makes them, them — and it adores it. Plato’s love is not blind, but rather sees into the soul of someone. It says, “I see you, I know you, and I love you for it.”

Love actually

Whichever type of love we focus on, most people agree that it’s an essential part of a happy life. From the love we get from our parents, to the love we give to our partners, our friends, and our children, love is the beautiful oddity of the human species.

Love is what motivates us to do the brilliant and brave, as well as the stupid and reckless. It’s what the sentient robots of our sci-fi future never quite understand about us. For however much love is “just” a soup of hormones, it’s still the single most important aspect of human existence.

Jonny Thomson runs a popular Instagram account called Mini Philosophy (@philosophyminis). His first book is Mini Philosophy: A Small Book of Big Ideas.

What is love? People have had a hard time answering that question for a lot longer than you might think. In Ancient Greece, love was a concept pondered over by some of history’s most famous philosophers, including Plato and Aristotle. Greek philosophers attempted to explain love rationally and often categorized the different kinds of love people could feel. Because we love them so much, we brought together some Greek words—and a Latin one, for good measure—for the different kinds of love you might find out there.

eros

Original Greek: ἔρως (érōs)

Eros is physical love or sexual desire. Eros is the type of love that involves passion, lust, and/or romance.

Examples of eros would be the love felt between, well, lovers. Eros is the sensual love between people who are sexually attracted to each other. In the Bible, eros was synonymous with “marital love” because husbands and wives were supposed to be the only people having sex. Eros was also the name of a love god in Greek mythology—better known by his Roman name, Cupid—and was the guy responsible for shooting magic arrows at people to make them fall in love.

The word eros is still used in psychology today to refer to sexual desire or the libido. The words erotic and erogenous, which both have to do with sexual desire or arousal, are derived from eros.

Why do we express our love through valentines?

philia

Original Greek: ϕιλία (philía)

Philia is affectionate love. Philia is the type of love that involves friendship.

Philia is the kind of love that strong friends feel toward each other. However, it doesn’t stop there. The Greek philosopher Plato thought that philia was an even greater love than eros and that the strongest loving relationships were ones where philia led to eros: a “friends become lovers” situation. Our concept of platonic love—love that isn’t based on physical attraction—comes from this Platonic philosophy.

The word philia is related to the word philosophy through the combining form philo-. Philia itself is the source of the combining forms -philia, -phile, and -phily, all three of which are used to indicate a figurative love or affinity for something.

agape

Original Greek: ἀγάπη (agápē)

Agape is often defined as unconditional, sacrificial love. Agape is the kind of love that is felt by a person willing to do anything for another, including sacrificing themselves, without expecting anything in return. Philosophically, agape has also been defined as the selfless love that a person feels for strangers and humanity as a whole. Agape is the love that allows heroic people to sacrifice themselves to save strangers they have never met.

storge

Original Greek: στοργή (storgé)

Storge is familial love. Storge is the natural love that family members have for one another.

Of all of the types of love, storge might be the easiest to understand. It is the type of love that parents feel toward their children and vice versa. Storge also describes the love that siblings feel towards each other, and the love felt by even more distant kin relationships, such as a grandparent for a grandchild or an uncle toward a niece.

mania

Original Greek: μανία (manía)

Mania is obsessive love. Mania is the kind of “love” that a stalker feels toward their victim.

As a type of love, mania is not good, and the Greeks knew this as well as we do. Mania is excessive love that reaches the point of obsession or madness. Mania describes what a jilted lover feels when they are extremely jealous of a rival or the unhealthy obsession that can result from mental illness.

The Greek mania is the source of the English word mania and similar words like maniac and manic. It is also the source of the combining form -mania, which is often used in words that refer to obsessive behavior such as pyromania and egomania.

ludus

Original Latin: Bucking the trend, the word ludus comes from Latin rather than Greek. In Latin, lūdus means “game” or “play,” which fits with the type of love it refers to. One possible Greek equivalent is the word ερωτοτροπία, meaning “courtship.”

Ludus is playful, noncommittal love. Ludus covers things like flirting, seduction, and casual sex.

Ludus means “play” or “game” in Latin, and that pretty much explains what ludus is: love as a game. When it comes to ludus, a person is not looking for a committed relationship. People who are after ludus are just looking to have fun or view sex as a prize to be won. A “friends with benefits” situation would be an example of a relationship built on ludus: neither partner is interested in commitment. Of course, ludus may eventually result in eros—and hopefully not mania—if feelings of passion or romance emerge during the relationship.

The Latin lūdus is related to the playful words ludic and ludicrous.

pragma

Original Greek: πράγμα (prágma)

Pragma is practical love. Pragma is love based on duty, obligation, or logic.

Pragma is the unsexy love that you might find in the political, arranged marriages throughout history. This businesslike love is seen in relationships where practicality takes precedence over sex and romance. For example, two people may be in a relationship because of financial reasons or because they have more to lose by breaking up than staying together.

Pragma may even involve a person tolerating or ignoring their partner’s infidelity, as was common in politically motivated royal marriages in much of world history. Pragma may not sound all that great to many, but it is possible for pragma to coexist alongside other types of love, such as ludus or even eros.

As you might have guessed, pragma is related to pragmatic, a word that is all about practicality.

What’s the difference between pragmatic and dogmatic?

philautia

Original Greek: ϕιλαυτία (philautía)

Philautia is self-love. No, not that kind. Philautia refers to how a person views themselves and how they feel about their own body and mind.

The modern equivalent of philautia would be something like self-esteem (good) or hubris (bad). People with high self-esteem, pride in themselves, or a positive body image practice a healthy version of philautia. Of course, philautia has a dark side, too. Egomaniacal narcissists who think they are better than everybody else are also an example of philautia, but not in a healthy way. The duality of philautia just goes to show that love, even self-love, can often get pretty complicated.

Take the quiz

Now that you have learned the language of love that goes beyond “sweet nothings” and heart-shaped candies, head over to our quiz on these words for a hearty challenge.