What is the difference between “ti amo” and “ti voglio bene”?

Question

Can we use “*ti amo*” for expressing love between siblings?And we use “*ti voglio bene*” for expressing love between two passionate lovers?

Answer 1

In everyday life in Italy, the verb "amare" is linked to romatic love or fierce passion.

You can use "ti amo" with a partner, with a family member with whom you have an incredibly strong bond, or to describe an object/food that I like in a very strong way (this is considered an exaggeration, but it is very commonly used in colloquial Italian).

"Ti voglio bene" is used with "regular" family members and friends.

Examples:

Voglio molto bene ad Anna; è la mia migliore amica.

[I care a lot about Anna; she's my best friend]

Amo l'agnello!

[I love lamb]

Sei la persona più importante della mia vita: ti amo.

[you're the most important person in my life: I love you.]

Answer 2

The original meaning of the TI AMO implied intimate relation, 30 years ago you could not say I love my son/daughter, now the new generations can. It is the same like english, nowadays we can love our car, vacation, dogs anything due to the oversimplification of the language. TI VOGLIO BENE means affect, friendships etc.

Answer 3

AMARE is usually used for romantic or really passionate love. "Amo mia moglie, amo mio figlio, amo il cinema, ti amo alla follia, ecc"

VOLERE BENE is more like "to care for", refers to feelings, but doesn't include attaction or passion. "voglio il tuo bene, voglio bene al prossimo, voglio bene a mio fratello"

Piero