Updated on November 7, 2023
Will you be in Italy for Valentine’s Day with your amore? If so, check out our article on how we celebrate Valentine’s Day in Italy!
Are you planning a romantic February 14th aperitivo and dinner at home and want to surprise your love with a few Italian phrases?
Planning on calling your long-distance-love in Italy on Valentine’s Day?
No matter what, you’ll want to know how to say ‘Happy Valentine’s Day’ in Italian! After all, Italian is considered the language of love.
How To Say Happy Valentine’s Day In Italian
Valentine’s Day in Italy is La Festa di San Valentino (Saint Valentine’s Day).
To wish someone a Happy Valentine’s Day, you can tell them Buon San Valentino (Happy Valentine’s Day)!
You may also hear Italians calling Valentine’s Day, La Festa degli Innamorati (The Lovers’ Holiday).
So, you can also wish someone a Happy Valentine’s Day by saying Buona Festa degli Innamorati (Happy Lovers’ Holiday)!
Of these two, Buon San Valentino is by far the most used expression.
When To Say Happy Valentine’s Day To Someone In Italian
You can say Buon San Valentino to your amore or partner any time of day.
Good To Know: Valentine’s Day in Italy is only celebrated by couples. Children don’t exchange Valentine’s Day cards in class or have parties. Friends don’t celebrate the holiday together and there is no ‘Galentine’s Day.’
Because Valentine’s Day in Italy is only for couples, you won’t hear a lot of Buon San Valentino greetings on the street like you do for other holidays in Italy.
Of course, these ‘rules’ can be broken! I grew up celebrating Valentine’s Day, so our family members (including our children) exchange Valentine’s Day cards and small gifts or boxes of chocolates on Valentine’s Day.
How To Reply To Someone Wishing You Happy Valentine’s Day
If someone wishes you a Buon San Valentino, you can reply in a few different ways:
Grazie!
Grazie, anche a te!
Grazie, Buon San Valentino a te!
How To Say I Love You In Italian
Depending on your relationship status, you may also want to know how to say ‘I love you’ in Italian.
In English, we use the words ‘I love you’ to express our love to our partners, lovers, parents, children, friends, and more.
In Italian, we have two main ways to say I love you, depending on who we’re saying it to:
Ti amo means ‘I love you.’ Use ti amo to say ‘I love you’ to your lover, partner, spouse, etc.
You can also add tanto (so much) or molto (a lot) to the end:
- Ti amo tanto.
- Ti amo molto.
Or, to really emphasize how much you love the person, you can add tantissimo or moltissimo:
- Ti amo tantissimo!
- Ti amo moltissimo!
Ti voglio bene is another way to say ‘I love you.’ Use ti voglio bene for friends, your children, your parents, etc. We do not say ti voglio bene to our partners and lovers – we use ti amo.
Valentine’s Day Italian Vocabulary & Phrases
| Name | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| amore | love | |
| amore mio | my love | |
| tesoro mio | my treasure (dear) | |
| ti amerò per sempre | I’ll always love you | |
| sei la mia vita | you’re my life | |
| mi togli il fiato | you take my breath away | |
| stare con te è un sogno che sia vera | being with you is a dream come true | |
| sei l’uomo dei miei sogni | you’re the man of my dreams | |
| sei la donna dei miei sogni | you’re the woman of my dreams | |
| sei la luce dei miei occhi | you’re the light of my eyes | |
| il mio cuore batte solo per te | my heart beats only for you | |
| non posso vivere senza te | I can’t live without you |
How To Say Happy Valentine’s Day In Italian & Other Languages Used In Italy
- Italian – Buon San Valentino!
- German – Alles Liebe zum Valentinstag! (Dolomites)
- French – Joyeuse Saint-Valentin (Val d’Aosta)
Romantic Valentine’s Day Quotes In Italian
ITALIAN: Sei la cosa più bella che mi sia mai capitata.
ENGLISH: You’re the best thing that’s ever happened to me.
ITALIAN: L’amore vince ogni cosa. -Virgilio
ENGLISH: Love always wins. -Virgil
ITALIAN: Se so cos’è l’amore, è grazie a te. -Herman Hesse
ENGLISH: If I know what love is, it is because of you. –Herman Hesse
ITALIAN: Vorrei darti tutto quello che non hai mai avuto, e neppure così sapresti quanto è meraviglioso amarti. -Frida Kahlo
ENGLISH: I would like to give you all that you never had, but not even then would you know how beautiful it is to love you. -Frida Kahlo
ITALIAN: Amare è sapere dire ti amo senza parlare. -Victor Hugo
ENGLISH: Love is to know how to say I love you without speaking. -Victor Hugo
I hope you feel ready to wish your amore a Happy Valentine’s Day in Italian! I’ll leave you with a romantic scene from the film, Romeo & Juliet, with a young Leonardo di Caprio and Claire Danes. Buon San Valentino!
Want to learn holiday greetings in Italian? Check out our posts:
How to Say Happy New Year in Italian
How to Say Happy Valentine’s Day in Italian
La Festa della Donna – How Italy Celebrates International Women’s Day
Buon Ferragosto
How to Say Happy Thanksgiving in Italian
How to Say Merry Christmas in Italian
How to Wish Someone Happy Birthday in Italian
Valentine’s Day in Italy FAQ
Valentine’s Day in Italy is on February 14th. It’s a holiday celebrated by couples only and the celebration often includes a romantic dinner or exchanging gifts.
Valentine’s Day is not an official holiday, but it’s catching on, and you’ll find special dinners, markets, and events throughout the country, especially in larger cities. Valentine’s Day actually has its roots in Italy.
Italians typically have dinner at home or out at a restaurant. They also may exchange gifts, profess their love, or get engaged. For more info, check out our post on Valentine’s Day in Italy.
It’s important to note that Valentine’s Day in Italy is only celebrated by couples.
