T'estimo

English speakers have the verb "to love" so they can say "I love you". We, Catalans, do not have a usual equivalent for "to love": we say "T'estimo". The verb "estimar" literally means "to esteem, to respect". So, when you are saying someone "T'estimo", you are saying that you appreciate, respect him/her. Beautiful, isn't it?

In Catalonia today is a great day to say "t'estimo": this is Saint George's day ("Sant Jordi"), a day in which men give a rose to the women they love, whatever they are girlfriends, wives, sisters or mothers. On the other hand, women give a book to men (actually men also give books to women, besides of the rose). If you have the chance to walk around the cities and villages of Catalonia, you'll  be able to buy books and roses in the street markets that are specially set for today.

Happy Sant Jordi!

Saint George, a dragon and a rose as a single being, and the princess.
Illustration by Xavier Salomó

You can read the article about Sant Jordi 2011: " When roses and books fill Catalonia with color and culture "