In Italian, ti amo and ti voglio bene aren’t interchangeable, and knowing which one to reach for says something about what you actually mean.
Ti amo is most often reserved for romantic love, the kind you’d say to a husband, a girlfriend, a partner. Ti voglio bene is gentler and wider: it’s what you’d say to a parent, an old friend, a sibling, anyone whose place in your life runs deep without being romantic.
Amare e voler bene brings together the verbs that put that affection into practice: hugging, listening, forgiving, protecting, and everything in between.
These words are already in Italian, so there’s no translating to do first, just the pleasure of spotting each one hidden in the grid. If you’d like the English meanings too, you’ll find the full list further down the page.
Divertiti! 😊
My favourite word from this puzzle 💚🤍❤️
Coccolare is one of my favourite Italian words. We usually translate it as "to cuddle," but it means so much more than that. It's about making someone feel loved through warmth, affection and little acts of care. Fare le coccole, we say in Italian. It's one of those expressions that doesn't quite have a perfect English equivalent.
Language is full of little words like this that reveal something about the people who speak it.
If you'd like to spend a little longer in this corner of Italian, you might enjoy my book Home and Family – Learn Italian with Puzzles. It includes 100 relaxing puzzles exploring everyday vocabulary about family, friendships, home life and the people who matter most.
