People who demand neutrality in any situation are usually not neutral but in favor of the status quo.

Max Eastman

As promised, we are starting a series of articles on interracial relationships. The following is an introduction to the terminology used in many forums when discussing this issue, and the issue of race and ethnicity in general. For the benefit of our well-travelled-romantic readers, we also added the many ways of saying I Love You in different languages. It may not come in as handy as "May I have a glass of water ?", but we dare hope you will find some use for it.

Why such an introduction ? If words are indeed used to communicate, understanding the full meaning of a word, its implications, can only make dialogue easier. We researched the Web and found, amongst many, these two. We can only recommend that anyone interested in these issues go and visit the sites which are highly informative and very well presented.

Of race and society in general :

Glossary of Terms

[| A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | L | M | P | Q | R | S | T | U | W |]

-A - [TOP]

affirmative action

a program or policy intended to correct the effects of past discrimination in employment, education, housing, etc. Usually affirmative action in the United States includes hiring goals, set-asides, and extra opportunities for members of underrepresented minorities.

allele

an alternate form of a gene. For instance, the B blood allele is one of the three alleles for the ABO blood system. People possessing this allele can be blood type B (an inherited allele combination of BB or BO) or AB (an inherited allele combination of AB).

assimilation

the absorption of an individual or minority group of people into another society or group. This is achieved by learning and adopting the cultural traditions of the society to which assimilation occurs. It is also often hastened by intermarriage and de-emphasizing cultural and or biological differences.

 

- B - [TOP]

boundary maintenance

reinforcing an ethnic group's unity and distinctness by emphasizing the traits that set its members apart from others, rather than what they share in common with them.

 

- C - [TOP]

class

a group of people thought of as a unit because they are similar in terms

of social and/or economic factors. In America, for instance, a class distinction is commonly made between "white collar" well paid office workers and lower paid "blue collar" factory workers and manual laborers.

colonial powers

a term referring mostly to the Western European nations that carved out colonies in Africa, Asia, Central and South America, and the Pacific during the 18th through the early 20th centuries. The U.S., Russia, and Japan also acquired colonial empires in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

cultural relativism

judging and interpreting the behavior and beliefs of others in terms of their own cultural traditions and experiences. This suspension of one's own ethnocentric views is necessary in order to begin to truly understand another culture or ethnic group. See ethnocentrism.

 

- D - [TOP]

discrimination

the act of distinguishing differences between people and showing favoritism or prejudicial rejection of them based on their not hiring someone because he/she has a different differences ethnicity. See prejudice and stereotype.

diffusion

the movement of cultural traits and ideas from one society or ethnic group to another.

drop of blood criterion

see hypodescent.

 

- E - [TOP]

enculturation

the process of being socialized to a specific culture. Through enculturation an individual learns the statuses, roles, rules, and values of his or her own culture. The most intensive period of enculturation is usually during early childhood, but the process continues throughout life.

ethnic group

a category or group of people considered to be significantly different from others in terms of cultural (dialect, religion, traditions, etc.) and sometimes physical characteristics (skin color, body shape, etc.). Commonly recognized American ethnic groups include American Indians, Jews, Latinos, Chinese, African Americans ("blacks"), European Americans ("whites"), etc.

ethnicity

ethnic group identity.

ethnic symbol

selected traits used as symbolic badges of identity to emphasize distinctness from other ethnic groups. Dialect, religion, and style of dress are common ethnic symbols. Biological characteristics, such as skin color and body shape, may be used as ethnic symbols as well.

ethnocentrism

the feeling that your own group's cultural traditions and values are correct and superior to all others. This is usually coupled with a generalized dislike and even contempt for people who have other cultural traditions. Ethnocentrism is universal in that all people around the world are ethnocentric to some degree. See cultural relativism.

ethnocide

the act or attempt to systematically destroy a people's ethnicity or culture. Usually the term ethnocide is applied to intentional acts resulting in culture death. The legalized "kidnapping" of Native American children so that they could be educated as Europeanized Canadians and Americans during the late 19th and early 20th centuries is an example of ethnocide. See genocide.

 

- F - [TOP]

foragers

see hunters and gatherers

 

- G - [TOP]

gender

sexual identity as male or female. See sexism.

genocide

the act or attempt to systematically kill all members of an ethnic group or culture. The Nazi extermination of Jews and gypsies by the millions before and during World War II is an example of genocide. See ethnocide.

globalization

the progressive emergence of a single worldwide economic system and the simultaneous reduction in global cultural and political differences. A presumed result of globalization would be the merging of previously separate political entities and the growth in power and prestige of international institutions. See tribalism.

 

- H - [TOP]

heterogeneous society

a society consisting of many different ethnic and/or "racial" groups, social classes, languages and/or dialects, and cultural traditions. The U.S. and Canada are heterogeneous societies. See homogenous society.

Hispanic

referring to Spanish and/or Latin American cultural traditions. In

the U.S., Portuguese speaking Brazilians also are often considered Hispanics for

official census recording purposes while people from Spain and Portugal are

frequently excluded. See Latino.

homogenous society

a society that predominantly or entirely consists of people who share the same ethnicity/race, language, and cultural traditions. Most small-scale societies are homogenous. A few large-scale ones, like Japan, are as well. See heterogeneous society.

hunters and gatherers

people who live in more or less isolated, small-scale societies and obtain their food by foraging wild plants and hunting wild animals. Hunters and gatherers are also referred to as foragers.

hypodescent

the criterion for assigning individuals to specific "races" based on only a distant hereditary relationship. The Nazis used this criterion for labeling people as Jews whose only connection with Judaism was a grandparent. Similarly, it has been used in North America to label people as African American even if they were mostly European in biological ancestry. Hypodescent is also known as the "drop of blood" criterion.

- L - [TOP]

large-scale society

a society consisting of thousands to millions of people. Such societies depend on intensive agriculture and have cities with complex political and economic systems. See small-scale society.

Latino

in contemporary American usage, this is a person of Hispanic ethnic identity. (feminine form is Latina)

 

- M - [TOP]

majority group

an ethnic/racial group that has the largest population and usually the greatest economic and political power in a society. The majority group in North America today consists mostly of European Americans. See minority group.

melting pot

a society in which immigrants and native ethnic/racial minorities are assimilated into the dominant national culture. Those who prefer this model for America generally advocate encouraging assimilation in order to reinforce national unity. See multiculturalism.

minority group

an ethnic/racial group that has a smaller population than the controlling majority group in a society. Minority groups may also be based on shared gender, age, disabilities, political views, etc. See majority group.

multiculturalism

a "salad bowl" model of society in which the permanent existence of unassimilated and partially assimilated ethnic/racial minorities is accepted and encouraged. Those who advocate this model for America generally advocate providing special attention and assistance to minorities that had been underrepresented in the past. See melting pot.

 

- P - [TOP]

pastoralists

people who obtain their food and other necessities by herding large animals, such as cattle, horses, or reindeer. Pastoralism is usually an adaptation to semi-arid regions in which farming is not economically practical.

prejudice

the act of judging someone or some thing before the facts are known. Assuming that someone of a specific ethnic group or "race" will act in a particular way is an example of pre-judging them. When people from different groups have little or no contact with each other, they are likely to hold prejudicial views about each other and to act upon them. If the prejudicial views are inaccurate, they can be obstacles to productive dialog and understanding. See stereotype and discrimination.

 

- R - [TOP]

race

a biological subspecies, or variety, that consists of a more or less distinct population with anatomical traits that distinguish it clearly from other races. The human "races" commonly assumed to exist are mostly socio-cultural creations rather than biological realities. They are ethnic groups that are defined on the basis of both physical and cultural characteristics.

racialism

a relatively benign form of using "racial" distinctions, such as skin color and facial characteristics, for reference purposes. An example of racialism is identifying an accident victim as "an elderly Asian male". In America, "racial" traits are commonly used along with age and gender distinctions when referring to people who we do not know personally. See racism.

racism

harmful prejudice, discrimination, and/or persecution based on presumed ethnic/racial differences. An example of racism is not hiring someone for a job because of his or her skin color. Similarly, giving someone a preference in hiring due to skin color can be racism if people with other skin colors are disadvantaged by this act. See racialism.

 

- S - [TOP]

sexism

discrimination based on gender. An example of sexism is excluding people from promotion to executive positions in a corporation due to their gender.

small-scale society

a society consisting of less than a few hundred people. Such societies usually depend on hunting and gathering, pastoralism, or nonintensive farming and they do not have cities or complex economic and political systems. See large-scale society.

stereotype

a fixed notion or conception of people based on their group identity. For instance, assuming that a particular Chinese businessman is going to be greedy and dishonest because you believe that all Chinese businessmen are. Stereotyping is often at the base of prejudice and discrimination resulting from it.

sub-Saharan Africa

the region of Africa south of the Sahara desert.

- T - [TOP]

tribalism

a strong sense of identity with one's ethnic group, tribe, or nation. Tribalism is a counter force to globalization.

 

- U - [TOP]

underrepresented minority

a minority group that has a significantly smaller ratio of its members in education, government, business, etc. than other groups. Underrepresentation usually results from poverty and/or discrimination. African Americans, Native Americans, Hispanics, Pacific Islanders, and some Asian Americans are considered by the national government to be underrepresented minorities in America today.

 

- W - [TOP]

Western Cultures

European cultures and cultures derived from Europe, such as the United States and Canada. Western societies predominantly speak a European language and maintain European-like economic, political, legal, and educational systems. These societies have been the principle sources of pressure towards globalization in the late 20th century.

 

Copyright © 1997 by Dennis O'Neil

(Ethnicity and Race)

Of Asian and Pacific Islanders and other races :

LINGO, BUZZ WORDS & CONCEPTS

Amerasian- This word describes a person of partial Asian ancestry. It is distinct from Eurasian in that it is used to describe a person who has an Asian parent and an American parent (often a member of the military). Stereotypically, it was assumed that the father is black , white, or Latino stationed in Asia and the mother was from that Asian country (Korea, Japan, Vietnam, The Philippines).

Antimiscegenation- The idea that two people of two different "races" should not marry (and potentially have children). This was a state law in 17 states until it was federally rescinded in the Loving V. Virginia decision in 1967. The JACL was one the organizations fighting against this policy.

Best of Both Worlds- The idea that if one is of mixed racial/ethnic backgrounds that they are able to have the "best of both" sides i.e. culture, language, food, etc.

Blood Quantum- This concept tries to equate the percentage of "blood" that a mixed race person has from an ethnic group with legitimacy within that group (i.e. the greater the "blood" the greater the legitimacy). It is used most notably by the Federal Government to allocate resources to Native Americans. (A minimum of 1/4 - 1/16 is required for qualification.) However, as retired UC Berkeley Ethnic Studies Professor Terry Wilson observes, "there is no fixed list of characteristics that when totaled equals "Indian"". This view can be applied to all ethnic groups. (See one drop rule below.)

Cultural Bridge- The idea that becuase a mixed race person can identify with two or more racial or ethnic groups, they therefore have the potential bring the separate communities together and increase racial understanding. Although this seems to be a positive outcome of being multiracial, it unfair to place the onus of racial harmony on mixed race individuals, when it is the responsibility of the entire community

Ethnicity- Socially defined cultural characteristics shared by a group of people. An ethnic group may share common origin, history, values, language, attitudes, and behavior.

Eurasian- Like Amerasian (see above), the word Eurasian describes a person of partial Asian ancestry. It is distinct from Amerasian because it s application is limited to people who have parents from European and Asian ancestry. In many ways, the word Eurasian has replaced "Hapa"(see below), which allows for a broader description.

Hapa- Derived from the English word "half", Native Hawaiians used this word to describe someone who was "half Hawaiian". In colonial times, it was often combined with the word "haole" which meant stranger, foreigner, or white person. As time passed, "hapa" was used on the Continental United States by Japanese Americans and other Asian to describe a person of partial Asian ancestry. Many Nisei (second generation Japanese Americans) considered the term to be derogatory. Today, "Hapa" is simply accepted as a way to describe a person of partial Asian ancestry.

Hapaha- Derived from the word "hapa", "hapaha" means "quarter". It can be used as a measurement or to describe a person who has "one quarter" Asian Ancestry.

Hypo-descent- Margin Harris describes it as an "affiliation with the subordinate rather than the superordinate group in order to avoid the ambiguity of intermediate identity."

IDENTITY FORMS (From Mixed Matches, pg. 244. By Joel Crohn. 1995)

Majority Group Identifiers- They live and primarily identify with the identity of the parent who is from the dominant culture (i.e. white). They may or may not publicly acknowledge the identity of their other parent who, in this case, is of a minority-group background. (Known to some as Passing)

Minority Group Identifiers- They live and primarily identify within the ethnic and racial world of the one of their parents who is a minority group member. They may acknowledge that their other parent is from a different background, or they may try to deny their dual heritage. In either case, they may try to minimize or avoid contact with the other parent's culture. (Known to some as Fusing.)

Universalists -"None of the Above"- They choose to create their own values, rituals, and identity that are not based in any significant way upon either of their parents' backgrounds. They may refuse to accept any label that defines them as part of a racial, cultural, or religious group. Or, they may create an alternative identification as part of a particular and distinct group that is not related to their own parent's backgrounds.

Synthesizers- Synthesizers are people who are able to bring together and integrate some version of what they actually are-- composed of two or more cultures. They are able to acknowledge that they are influenced by aspects of both of their parents' backgrounds. Even if their identifications with both sides of their family are not evenly balanced, they still acknowledge the importance of both "parts".

Marginal Man- In 1928, sociologist Robert Park coined this phrase to describe people who were "cultural hybrids" that live "in two worlds, but are more or less a stranger in both." Today often used to describe some mixed race people who may be made to feel like a stranger in their communities.

One Drop Rule- As applied in the South, this "rule" mandated, as in Plessy v. Ferguson, that a person with "one drop" of "black blood" was legally an African American. This is closely related to hypo descent (see above), and is yet another example of how America's rigid racial categorization prevented people from embracing all of their ethnic backgrounds. The "one drop rule "has been applied almost exclusively to people of African descent and is unique to the United States.

Race- Today, it is commonly known that "race" is not a purely biological concept, but is instead an idea that is social construct. However, many people operate under the assumption that physical characteristics determine membership in distinct biological groups. This views often lead to stereotypical/racist categorizations such as, all Asians excel in math, all African Americans excel in sports, or all whites can't dance.

(The Hapa Handbook Interracial Terminology)

Even those amongst you who boldly go where no-one has gone before, will be able to express your irrepresible love with this extensive compilation as found on the Net.

Afrikaans : Ek is lief vir jou : Ek het jou lief Akan

Albanian : Te dua : Te dashuroj : Ti je zemra ime

Alentejano(Portugal) : Gosto de ti, porra!

Alsacien (Elsass) : Ich hoan dich gear

Amharic (Ethiopia) : Afekrishalehou : Ewedishalehu (male/female to female) : Ewedihalehu (male/female to male)

Apache : Sheth she~n zho~n (nasalized vowels like French, '~n' as in French 'salon')

Arabic (formal) : Ohiboke (male to female) : Ohiboki (male to female) : Ohibokoma (male or female to two males or two females) : Nohiboke (more than one male or females to female) : Nohiboka (male to male or female to male) : Nohibokoma (male to male or female to two males or two females) : Nohibokom (male to male or female to more than two males) : Nohibokon (male to male or female to more than two females)

Arabic (proper) : Ooheboki (male to female) : Ooheboka (female to male) Arabic : Ana behibak (female to male) : Ana behibek (male to female) : Ahebich (male to female) : Ahebik (female to male) : Ana ahebik : Ib'n hebbak : Ana ba-heb-bak : Bahibak (female to male) : Bahibik (male to female) : Benhibak (more than one male or female to male) : Benhibik (male to male or female to female) : Benhibkom (male to male or female to more than one male) : Nhebuk (spoken to someone of importance)

Arabic (Umggs.) : Ana hebbek

Armenian : Yes kez si'rumem

Assamese (India) : Moi tomak bhal pau

Basque : Nere maitea (means: my love) : Maite zaitut (means: I love you) Bassa : Mengweswe

Batak (Nordsumatra) : Holong rohangku di ho

Bavarian : I mog di narrisch gern : I mog di (right answer: i di a)

Bemba : Ndikufuna

Bengali : Aami tomaake bhaalo baashi : Ami tomay bhalobashi : Ami tomake bahlobashi : Ami tomake walobashi : Ami tomake vhalobashi Berber : Lakh tirikh

Bicol (Philippines) : Namumutan ta ka

Quechua (Bolivia) : Qanta munani

Bosnian : Volim te Braille

Brazilian/Portuguese : Eu te amo (pronounced 'eiu chee amu') : Amo-te Bulgarian : Obicham te : As te obicham : Obozhavam te ("I love you very much")

Burmese : Chit pa de

Cambodian : Kh_nhaum soro_lahn nhee_ah : Bon sro lanh oon

Canadian French : Sh'teme (spoken, sounds like this) : Je t'aime ("I like you") : Je t'adore ("I love you")

Catalan : T'estimo

Catalonian : T'estim

Cebuano (Philippines) : Gihigugma ko ikaw

Chamoru (or Chamorro) : Hu guaiya hao

Cheyenne : Ne mohotatse

Chichewa : Ndimakukonda

Chickasaw (USA) : Chiholloli (first 'i' nasalized)

Chinese : Goa ai li (Amoy dialect), Ngo oi ney (Cantonese dialect), Wo oi ni (Cantonese dialect), Ngai oi gnee (Hakka dialect), Ngai on ni (Hakka dialect), Wa ai lu (Hokkien dialect), Wo ai ni (Mandarin dialect), Wo ie ni (Mandarin dialect), Wuo ai nee (Mandarin dialect), Wo ay ni (Mandarin dialect), Wo ai ni (Putunghua dialect), Ngo ai nong (Wu dialect)

Corsican : Ti tengu cara (male to female) : Ti tengu caru (female to male)

Creol : Mi aime jou

Croatian (familiar) : Ja te volim (used in proper speech) : Volim te (used in common speech) Croatian (formal) : Ja vas volim (used in proper speech) : Volim vas (used in common speech) : Ljubim te (in todays useage, "I kiss you", 'lj' pronounced like 'll' in Spanish, one sound, 'ly'ish)

Croatian (old) : Ljubim te (may still be found in poetry)

Czech : Miluji te (a downwards pointing arrowhead on top of the 'e' in te, which is pronounced 'ye') : Miluju te! (colloquial form) : Mám te (velmi) rád (male speaker, "I like you (very much)", often used and prefered) : Mám te (velmi) ráda (female speaker)

Danish : Jeg elsker dig

Dusun : Siuhang oku dia

Dutch : Ik hou van je : Ik hou van jou : Ik bemin je (old fashioned) : Ik bemin jou (old fashioned) : Ik ben verliefd op je : Ik ben verliefd op jou : Ik zie je graag : Ik hol van die (Gronings a Hollands dialect)

Quechua (Ecuador) : Canda munani

English : I love you : I adore you : I love thee (used only in Christian context)

Esperanto : Mi amas vin

Estonian : Mina armastan sind

Ethiopian : Afgreki' (one of the Ethiopians dialects, there are over 80 - see also under "Amharic")

Farsi (old) : Tora dust mi daram

Farsi : Tora dost daram ("I love you") : Asheghetam : Doostat daram ("I'm in love with you") : Man asheghetam ("I'm in love with you")

Filipino : Mahal ka ta : Iniibig kita

Finnish (formal) : Minä rakastan sinua : Rakastan sinua : Minä pidän sinusta ("I like you")

Finnish : (Mä) rakastan sua : (Mä) tykkään susta ("I like you")

French (formal) : Je vous aime

French : Je t'aime ("I love you") : Je t'adore ("I love you", stronger meaning between lovers) : J' t'aime bien ("I like you", meant for friends and family, not for lovers)

Friesian : Ik hou fan dei (sp?) : Ik hald fan dei

Gaelic : Ta gra agam ort : Moo graugh hoo

Ghanaian (Akan, Twi) : Me dor wo

German (formal) : Ich liebe Sie (rarely used)

German : Ich liebe dich : Ich hab dich lieb (not so classic and conservative)

Greek : S'ayapo (spoken "s'agapo", 3rd letter is lower case 'gamma') : Eime eroteumenos mazi sou ("I'm in love with) : Eime eroteumenos me 'sena(you", male to female) : Eime eroteumeni mazi sou ("I'm in love with) : Eime eroteumeni me 'sena (you", female to male) : Se latrevo ("I adore you") : Se thelo ("I want you", denotes sexual desire)

Greek (old) : (Ego) Philo su ('ego', for emphasis)

Greek (Arhea/Ancient) : Philo se

Greenlandic : Asavakit

Guarani' : Rohiyu (ro-hai'-hyu)

Gujrati (Pakistan) : Hoon tane pyar karoochhoon. : Hoon tuney chaoon chhoon ('n' is nasal, not pronounced)

Hausa (Nigeria) : Ina sonki

Hawaiian : Aloha wau ia 'oe : Aloha wau ia 'oe nui loa ("I love you very much")

Hebrew : Anee ohev otakh (male to female) : Anee ohevet otkha (female to male) : Anee ohev otkha (male to male) : Anee ohevet otakh (female to female) ('kh' pronounced like Spanish 'j', Dutch 'g', or similiar to French 'r')

Hindi : Mai tumase pyar karata hun (male to female) : Mai tumase pyar karati hun (female to male) : Mai tumse pyar karta hoon : Mai tumse peyar karta hnu : Mai tumse pyar karta hoo : Mai tujhe pyaar kartha hoo : Mae tumko peyar kia : Main tumse pyar karta hoon : Main tumse prem karta hoon : Main tuze pyar karta hoon ('n' is nasal, not pronounced) Hokkien : Wa ai lu

Hopi : Nu'umi unangwáta

Hungarian : Szeretlek : Te'ged szeretlek ("The one I love is you:) : Szeretlek te'ged ("It's you I love, you know, you", a reinforcement) (The above two entries are never heard in a normal context.)

Ibaloi (Philippines) : Pip-piyan taha Pipiyan ta han shili (I like/love you very much)

Icetot : tsamia bi (more familiar) : eminia bi (a more intense love, altruistic in nature)

Indi : Mai Tujhe Pyaar Kartha Ho

Interglossa : Mi esthe philo tu

Icelandic : Eg elska thig (pronounced 'yeg l-ska thig')

Ilocano : Ay-ayaten ka

Indonesian : Saya cinta padamu ('Saya', commonly used) : Saya cinta kamu ('Saya', commonly used) : Saya kasih saudari ('Saya', commonly used) : Saja kasih saudari ('Saya', commonly used) : Aku tjinta padamu ('Aku', not often used) (tjinta is the old written version influenced by Netherlands) : Aku cinta padamu ('Aku', not often used) : Aku cinta kamu ('Aku', not often used) (cinta is the modern written version since 1972; same for saya and saja)

Italian : Ti amo (relationship/lover/spouse) : Ti voglio bene (between friends) : Ti voglio (strong sexual meaning, "I want you" referred to the other person's body)

Irish : Taim i' ngra leat

Irish-Gaelic : t'a gr'a agam dhuit

Japanese : Kimi o ai shiteru : Aishiteru : Chuu shiteyo : Ora omee no koto ga suki da : Ore wa omae ga suki da : Suitonnen : Sukiyanen : Sukiyo : Watashi wa anata ga suki desu : Watashi wa anata wo aishithe imasu : Watashi wa anata o aishitemasu : A-i-shi-te ma-su : Watakushi-wa anata-wo ai shimasu : Suki desu (used at the first time, like for a start, when you are not yet real lovers)

Javanese : Kulo tresno

Kankana-ey (Phil.) : Laylaydek sik-a

Kannada (India) : Naanu Ninnanu Preethisuthene Naanu Ninnanu Mohisuthene Kikongo : Mono ke zola nge (mono ke' zola nge')

Kiswahili : Nakupenda : Nakupenda wewe : Nakupenda malaika ("I love you, (my) angel")

Klingon : bangwI' SoH ("You are my beloved") : qamuSHá ("I love you") : qamuSHáqu' ("I love you very much") : qaparHá ("I like you") : qaparHáqu' ("I like you very much!") (words are often unnecessary as the thought is most often conveyed nonverbally with special growlings)

Korean : Dangsinul saranghee yo ("I love you, dear") : Saranghee : Nanun dangsineul joahapnida ("I like you") : Nanun dangsineul mucheog joahapnida ("I like you very much") : Nanun dangsineul saranghapnida : Nanun dangsineul mucheog saranghapnida ("I love you very much") : Nanun gdaega joa ("I like him" or "I like her") : Nanun gdaereul saranghapnida ("I love him" or "I love her") : Nanun neoreul saranghanda : Gdaereul hjanghan naemaeum alji (You know how much I love him/her.) : Joahaeyo ("I like you") : Saranghaeyo (more formal) : Saranghapanida (more respectful) : Norul sarang hae (male to female in casual relationship) : Tangsinul sarang ha yo : Tangshin-ul sarang hae-yo : Tangshin-i cho-a-yo ("I like you, in a romantic way") : Nanun tangshinul sarang hamnida

Kpele : I walikana

Kurdish : Ez te hezdikhem : Min te xushvet : Min te xoshwet (Southern dialect)

Lao : Khoi hak jao : Khoi hak chao : Khoi mak jao lai ("I like you very much") : Khoi hak jao lai ("I love you very much") : Khoi mak jao (This means "I prefer you", but is used for "I love you".)

Latin : Te amo : Vos amo Latin (old) : (Ego) Amo te ('Ego', for emphasis)

Latvian : Es tevi milu (pronounced 'es tevy meelu') ('i in 'milu' has a line over it, a 'long i') : Es milu tevi (less common)

Lebanese : Bahibak Lingala : Nalingi yo

Lisbon lingo : Gramo-te bue', chavalinha!

Lithuanian : Tave myliu (Ta-ve mee-lyu) : Ash mir lutavah

Lojban : Mi do prami

Luo (Kenya) : Aheri

Luxemburgish : Ech hun dech gär

Maa : Ilolenge

Macedonian : Te sakam (a little stronger than "I like you") : Te ljubam ("I really love you") : Jas te sakam ('j' sounds like 'y' in May) : Pozdrav ("Greetings")

Madrid lingo : Me molas, tronca!

Maiese : Wa wa

Malagasy : Tiako ianao

Malay : Saya cintamu : Saya sayangmu : Saya sayang anda : Saya cintakan mu (grammatically correct) : Saya sayangkan mu ( " ) : Saya chantikan awak : Aku sayang kau Malay/Bahasa : Saya cinta mu

Malay/Indonesian : Aku sayang kau : Saya cantikan awak : Saya sayangkan engkau : Saya cintakan awak : Aku cinta pada kau : Aku cinta pada mu : Saya cinta pada mu : Saya sayangkan engkau ('engkau' often shortened to 'kau', 'engkau' is informal form and should only be used if you know the person _really_ well)

Malayalam : Ngan ninne snaehikkunnu : Njyaan ninne' preetikyunnu : Njyaan ninne' mohikyunnu Malaysian : Saya cintamu : Saya sayangmu : Saya cinta kamu

Mallorcan : T'estime

Marathi : Mi tuzya var prem karato : Me tujhashi prem karto (male to female) : Me tujhashi prem karte (female to male)

Marshallese : Yokwe Yuk (sort of multi-purpose, like Aloha, literally Love to you, my friend)

Mohawk : Konoronhkwa

Mokilese : Ngoah mweoku kaua

Mongolian : Be Chamad Hairtai (very personal)

Moroccan : Kanbhik (both mean the same, but spoken) : Kanhebek (in different cities)

Navajo : Ayor anosh'ni

Ndebele (Zimbabwe) : Niyakutanda

Nepali : Ma timi sita prem garchhu (romantic) : Ma timilai maya garchhu (less emphatic, can be used in a non romantic context, too)

Norwegian : Jeg elsker deg (Bokmaal) : Eg elskar deg (Nynorsk) : Jeg elsker deg (Riksmaal: outdated, formerly used by upper-class and conservative people)

Nyanja : Ninatemba Op : Op lopveop yopuop Oromoo : Sinjaladha : Sinjaldha

Osetian : Aez dae warzyn

Pakistani : Mujhe tumse muhabbat hai : Muje se mu habbat hai

Papiamento : Mi ta stimábo

Pedi (related to Tswana): Kiyahurata. (pronounced as: Kee-ya--hoo-rata) Pig Latin : Ie ovele ouye (pronounced as: I-ay ov-lay u-yay.)

Pilipino : Mahal kita : Iniibig kita

Polish : Kocham cie ("cie" is slangy polish and not commonly used) : Kocham ciebie : Ja cie kocham

Portuguese/Brazilian : Eu te amo (pronounced 'eiu chee amu') : Amo-te

Pulaar : Mbe de yid ma (mbe: d: yidh ma) (Pronounced as two words, "Meb deyidma". 'b' and second 'd' have bars through the stems indicating affrication, the ':' indicate minute pauses)

Punjabi (India): Main tainu pyar karna : Mai taunu pyar Karda : Main teri fudi marni chauda ha : Mera lun ik huth lamba hai : Par fudi chari de vich marni hai.

Quenya(J.R. Tolkien) : Tye-meláne

raetoromanisch : te amo

Romanian : Te iubesc : Te ador (stronger)

Russian : Ya vas lyublyu (old fashioned) : Ya tyebya lyublyu (best) : Ya lyublyu vas (old fashioned) : Ya lyublyu tyebya

Samoan : Ou te alofa outou. : Ou te alofa ia te oe. : Talo'fa ia te oe. ("Hello, from me to you") : Fia moi? ("Would you like to go to bed with me tonight?")

Sanskrit : Anurag (a higher love, like the love of music or art)

Scot-Gaelic : Tha gr`adh agam ort

Serbian (formal) : Ja vas volim (used in proper speech) : Volim vas (used in common speech) : Ljubim te (in todays useage, "I kiss you", 'lj' pronounced like 'll' in Spanish, one sound, 'ly'ish)

Serbian (familiar) : Ja te volim (used in proper speech) : Volim te (used in common speech)

Serbian (old) : Ljubim te (may still be found in poetry)

Serbocroatian : Volim te : Ljubim te : Ja te volim ('j' sounds like 'y' in May)

SeSotho : Kiyahurata. (pronounced as: Kee-ya--hoo-rata)

Shona : Ndinokuda

Singhalese (Sri Lanka) : Mama oyata adarei : Mama oyaata aadareyi

Sioux : Techihhila Slovak : Lubim ta

Slovene : Ljubim te

Spanish : Te amo : Te quiero : Te adoro (I adore you) : Te deseo (I desire you) : Me antojés (I crave you)

Srilankan : Mama oyata arderyi

Suaheli (Ostafrika) : Ninikupenda

Swahili : Nakupenda : Naku penda (followed by the person's name) : Ninikupenda : Dholu'o

Swedish : Jag älskar dig. (pronounced: "Yag alskar day")

Syrian/Lebanese : Bhebbek (male to female) : Bhebbak (female to male)

Tagalog : Mahal kita Tahitian : Ua Here Vau Ia Oe : Ua here vau ia oe

Tamil : Naan unnai kadalikiren : Nan unnai kathalikaren : Ni yaanai kaadli karen ("You love me") : N^an unnaki kathalikkinren ("I love you") : Nam vi'rmberem

Telugu (Indian) : Neenu ninnu prámistu'nnanu : Nenu ninnu premistunnanu : Ninnu premistunnanu

Thai (formal) : Phom rak khun (male to female) : Ch'an rak khun (female to male) : Phom-ruk-koon (male to female) : Chun-ruk-koon (female to male)

Thai : Khao raak thoe (affectionate, sweet, loving)

Tswana : Ke a go rata

Tshiluba : Ndi mukusua (I love you) : Ndi musua wewe (I want you) : Ndi ne ditalala bua wewe (I have love for you)

Tunisian : Ha eh bak

Tumbuka : Nkhukutemwa

Turkish (formal) : Sizi seviyorum

Turkish : Seni seviyorum : Seni begeniyorum ("I adore you") (g has a bar on it)

Twi (Ghana) : Me dowapaa : Me dor wo Ukrainian : Ya tebe kokhayu : Ja tebe kokhaju (real true love) : Ja vas kokhaju : Ja pokokhav tebe : Ja pokokhav vas

Urdu (India) : Main tumse muhabbat karta hoon : Mujhe tumse mohabbat hai : Mujge tumae mahabbat hai : Kam prem kartahai

Vai : Na lia

Värmländska : Du är görgo te mäg

Vietnamese : Anh yeu em (male to female) : Em yeu anh (female to male) : Toi yeu em

Valencian : T'estim molt ("I love you a lot")

Volapük : Löfob oli

Vulcan : Wani ra yana ro aisha

Walloon : Dji vos veu volti (lit. I like to see you) : Dji vos inme (lit. I love you) : Dji v'zinme

Welsh : Rwy'n dy garu di. : Yr wyf i yn dy garu di (chwi)

Wolof : Da ma la nope : Da ma la nop (da málanop)

Yiddish : Kh'hob dikh lib : Kh'ob dikh holt : Ikh bin in dir farlibt Yucatec Maya : 'in k'aatech (the love of lovers) : 'in yabitmech (the love of family, which lovers can also feel; it indicates more a desire to spoil and protect the other person)

Yugoslavian : Ja te volim

Zazi (kurdisch) : Ezhele hezdege (sp?)

Zulu : Mina Ngithanda Wena. (rarely used; means: "Me, I love you.") : Ngiyakuthanda (pronounced as: NGee-ya--koo--tanda)

Zuni : Tom ho'ichema

Explanation of Languages : Afrikaans -> spoken by people of Dutch heritage in South Africa; Alentejano -> language spoken in Portugal; Alsacien -> French/German dialect (live in France, but speak like Germans); Apache -> North American Indian Nation rangeing from the plains states to the eastern Rocky Mountains and from the Canadian to Mexican borders; Arabic -> language spoken in the Arab countries including but not limited to Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Libya, Morocco, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, and the region of Palestine; Assamese -> language spoken in the state of Assam, India; Batak -> northern Sumatra province of Indonesia; Bavarian -> language spoken in the state of Bavaria, southern Germany (actually a German dialect); Bengali -> language spoken in the state of West Bengal, India, as well as almost all people of Bangladesh; Bicol -> Philipino dialect; Cebuano -> language spoken in Philippines near the town of Cebu; Cheyenne -> North American Indian tribe, part of the Apache NationChichewa -> language spoken in Malawi, Central AfricaChickasaw -> North American Indian tribe (southeastern Oklahoma); Creol -> French dialect spoken by people who migrated from Canada to the Louisiana, USA, area; Dusun -> language spoken by the Dusun tribe, one of the largest in North Borneo (SABAH); Dutch -> language spoken in the Netherlands and the provinces of East- and West-Flanders, Antwerp, Limburg, and Flemmish-Brabant, Belgium; Esperanto -> The International Language ('artificial' language); Farsi -> language spoken in Iran. Dialects of Farsi spoken in Pakistan and Afghanestan. Farsi is sometimes called Persian; Franconian -> German dialect spoken by the citizens of Franken or Franconia which is part of Bavaria in the area around Nuremberg; French -> language spoken in France, Canada, and the provinces of Luxembourg, Namur, Liege, Hainault, and Brabant- Walloon(Brabant of the Walloons), BelgiumFriesian -> language spoken in northern Holland, northern Germany, and in some parts of Denmark (mainly west coast); Gaelic -> language spoken in Ireland, Scotland and the Isle of Man, as well as in some areas of Scottish settlement in Eastern Maritime Canada; Ghanaian -> language spoken in Ghana (some dialects are Akan and Twi which are in this case not different from each other; Gronings -> Dutch dialect; Guarani' -> one of the two official languages in Paraguay; Gujrati -> language spoken in the state of Gujrat, India; Hausa -> language spoken in Nigeria; Hakka -> Chinese dialect from Manchuria; Hindi -> language spoken in the northern states of India; Hopi -> North American Indian tribe (southwest, Arizona); Ibaloi -> Philipino dialect; Icetot -> language spoken by the Ik people of northeastern Uganda; Ilocano -> Filopino dialect; Interglossa -> 'artificial' language, invented by Lancelot Hogben in 1940; Kankana-ey -> Philipino dialect; Kannada -> language spoken in the state of Karnataka, southern India; Kikongo -> language spoken in Zaire, Africa; Klingon -> Spoken in Star Trek. Proper term for the language is "tlhIngan Hol". The Klingon homeworld is Qo'noS, in English it's Kronos; Letzeburgisch -> language spoken in Luxemburg, a mixture of French and German, with the emphasis on German; Lao -> language spoken in Laos and by the Laotian people living in northern Thailand; Luo -> language spoken in Kenya; Malagasy -> language spoken on the most beautiful island in the world, Madagascar; Malayalam -> language spoken in the state of Kerala, India; Marathi -> language spoken in the state of Maharastra, India (Bombay is the capital city); Marshallese -> language spoken on the Marshall Islands; Mohawk -> North American Indian tribe (New England, maybe one of the Seven Nations/Iriquois?); Mokilese -> language spoken on Mokil and Ponape (Pohnpei); Moroccan -> language spoken in Morocco, North Africa; Navajo -> North American Indian tribe (southwest); Nepali -> language spoken in Nepal, as well as in parts of India and Bhutan; Ndebele -> language spoken in Zimbabwe; Papiamento -> language spoken on the island of Aruba; Pulaar -> dialect spoken in Senegal by the Fulani people; Punjabi -> language spoken in the state of Punjab, northern India; Quechua -> language spoken south american Incas descendants; Quenya -> Elvish language invented by J. R. R. Tolkien for his books. Notably, "The Lord of the Rings"; SeSotho -> language spoken in Lesotho and parts of South Africa (closely related to Tswana (Botswana)) Shona -> language spoken in Zimbabwe; Singhalese -> Language of the non-Tamil (majority) people of Sri Lanka. Also spoken in Ceylon; Sioux -> North American Indian tribe (upper midwest); Swahili -> language spoken by some indigenous tribes of South Africa; Tagalog -> Philipino dialectTamil -> language spoken in the state of Tamil Nadu, India, and in Sri Lanka, Singapore, Malaysia, Mauritius; Telugu -> language spoken in the state of Andhra Pradesh, India (eleventh most spoken language in the world); Tshiluba -> language of the BaLuba tribe in south-central Zaire; Tumbuka -> Bantu language spoken in Malawi and Zambia; Urdu -> language spoken in Pakistan and India; Värmländska -> language spoken in a part of Sweden - Värmland (north of lake Vänern); Volapük -> 'artificial' language, invented by August Schleyer in 1880; Vulcan -> Spoken in Star Trek by Mr. Spock and others from the planet Vulcan; Walloon -> latin language, literally Welsh (not English Welsh), a little used French dialect with quite strong Germanic influence spoken in the provinces of Luxemburg, Namur, Liege, Hainault, and Brabant-Walloon (Brabant of the Walloons), Belgium; Wolof -> dialect spoken in Senegal by the Wolof people; Yucatec Maya -> language spoken by indigenous people of the Yucatan peninsula in Mexico; Zazi -> Kurdic dialect; Zuni -> North American Indian tribe.

(I love you)

 

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