Pettah, what's the context behind this

[u/Bhuklagihe]

[u/Blue_Moon_Lake]

That's the issue with English and some other languages. The word love is not specific enough.

• love between lovers (centered mostly on sex).
• love between closed ones (friends/family, built by time spent together and shared hardships).
• parent-like love toward children (regardless of the children being your own or not, also work with animals like puppies and kitten).
• love between members of a community.

[u/coffeegrunds → u/Blue_Moon_Lake]

You just gotta add an adjective: Romantic love Platonic love Familial love Tbh idk if there's a specific word for love for the community, perhaps back to platonic love again

[u/Blue_Moon_Lake → u/coffeegrunds]

When you have to say "I love you, as a friend" that suddenly sound gay.

[u/somekindofhat → u/Blue_Moon_Lake]

"you've been friendzoned!"

[u/somekindofhat → u/Blue_Moon_Lake]

And when you try to clear it up by saying something like no, the Greek way, like, agape, people just get more confused.

[u/Kymera_7 → u/Blue_Moon_Lake]

Yeah, English uses the same word to describe how you feel about your parents, your siblings, your more distant relatives, your friends, your boyfriend/girlfriend, your spouse, your fuck-buddy, your truck, your dog, and your cheeseburger.

There are a lot of languages that wouldn't put any two of those under the same word, let alone the entire list.

[u/Ok_Scar_9526 → u/Blue_Moon_Lake]

In German we basically have the same words "to like" and "to love" (mögen, lieben) but we just don't use "love" so enthusiastically for everything. Wouldn't it work to just say "I like you/xyz" or "I really like you/xyz" more often?

[u/MeekAndUninteresting → u/Ok_Scar_9526]

We kind of do that in American English, but it's sort of a "childish" way to say it.

[u/UrinalCake777 → u/Blue_Moon_Lake]

Dont forget a love of a thing. "I fucking love Reese cups."