Is there a difference between saying "I love you" and "Love you?"?

Love you- is a short and sweet form of affection, generally used at times of good-bye, as in going off to work in the morning "Bye! Love you!"

I Love You- is a more formal expression of love generally used when you're feeling really serious about

your relationship and want to make sure your significant other understands your feelings completely.

In my relationship, my fiance and I say both phrases. We say "love you" when we are in a hurry or just want to be affectionate. To me, "love you" is a way of saying "I love you" without being as formal. It is more of an affectionate phrase than a deep and passionate phrase.

When a person sys "I love you", it adds the personal and deeper meaning of the love you feel. Adding "I' means that I personally love you. "Love you" is a way that some people use to get past thier real feelings.

I can't speak for everyone. But, as long as you don't ALWAYS just say "love you" then you are in a relationship where you are stating your love for someone.

Love you is what I say when I am mad at my hubby and he is in the "I want to make up now stage." Yes it is said reluctantly at that time.

I love you is when I mean it with all my heart and soul. Which is 99% of the time I say it to him.

Going off a little further, we can also say "there is no love without forgiveness and there is no forgiveness without love." So I know fo sho' "I love my hubby." It is what allows me to push a little harder every time I think I am done with him, and in my humble admission, that love comes from the man upstairs or I would not be able to put as much as I do into this marriage.

Which too at times my hubby may feel the same about me as I am not perfect one bit.

Interesting question.

With my husband, no. There is no difference. Nor with my daughter. It's me being lazy and leaving off the "I". Actually, no that I think about it, I go both ways with everyone I say it to; friends, family, dogs. So now, with me at least, there is no difference. The feeling and sentiment are the same either way.

"Love you" is more like something you say at the end of a phone call or saying casually goodbye. Its less of a thought, and more like a pleasantry.

"I love you" is more formal. Its taking the extra thought and paying attention to the little detail that makes it special. Like you are making sure its a signature you are sending your love to this person.

My kids say that (love you) when we say goodbye...more like 'loveyoubye'

At 1st I said "doesn't the word lose it's meaning when you say it so casually?" But no, I'll take what I can get from teens.

I think saying "I Love You" is for more serious times when you're looking in their eyes and want them to really feel it.

As long as the word love you is in there somewhere then the general idea of it is being portrayed.

"Love you" seems a bit more impersonal like when you are rushing out and shout behind your back "Love ya!" However, when you look at a person and say: "I love you," it shows them your feelings and that they truly matter, you aren't just rushing or throwing it out there.

The first is more sincere and the second is more like in passing.

Of course, it all depends on the mood and tone in which they are said.

Havent said either of them in a while, but from my observation "love you" is something said for show in front of other people and smacks of insincerity. "I love you" is something expressed in private and therefore more worthwhile.