Musically, “Te Amo” draws influence from Latin American music genres and is set in common time with a tempo of 172 beats per minute. The song is written in the key of G-sharp minor with Rihanna’s vocal range spanning from the low note of F♯3 to the high note of C♯5.
Lyrically, “Te Amo” tells of a relationship between two women, with one realizing that she is falling in love with Rihanna, proclaiming ‘Te amo’ throughout the song. As Rihanna realizes that the other woman is falling in love with her, Rihanna sings “I feel love but I don’t feel that way”, meaning that she knows her suitor loves her, but does not want to become romantically involved with her.