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The phrase "I miss you" can be equivocal: suggestive of (a) romantic longing and/or (b) regret of loss.

Certainly, context can shape its meaning, including geography, historical period, and the speakers and their relationships.

Given the circumstances in which it would be desirable to eliminate ambiguity, such as a platonic friendship, is there an alternative phrase for expressing (b) without (a)?

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    "I miss you" has too strong a connotation of romance? What region are you in? – user867 Apr 17 '14 at 3:27
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    Are you sure you don't have feelings for this girl? – RyeɃreḁd Apr 17 '14 at 3:49
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    Just say, “I miss you”. There's nothing wrong with that, and it's perfectly normal to say it to your friends (if you do in fact miss them), regardless of gender. – Janus Bahs Jacquet Apr 17 '14 at 8:23
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    @RyeɃreḁd This comment is riddled with assumptions. Gender of the OP being the biggest one. – Cruncher Apr 17 '14 at 12:45
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    @tchrist Dating.SE got shut down, the format doesn't quite fit... – Rob Church Apr 17 '14 at 14:30
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  • Your absence has resulted in a sense of loss. (Pretty impersonal and somewhat morbid. I can picture this being said by some distant relative at a funeral.)
  • It would be nice if you were here. (Flirtatious.)
  • I miss your friendship. (Suggests that they used to be friends, but no longer are.)

How about:

  • I miss hanging out together.
  • It's boring here without you.
  • Things aren't the same when you're not around.
  • When are you coming to visit me?

The answer is highly subjective depending on how close the friendship is, the type of humor, how well 'they' know each other. What I mean by that is if they are very close and have a slightly naughty side they can get away with sexual connotations because they know their friendship will never go that way nor do they want it to (or at least one of them doesn't).

  • I miss sleeping with you! (As in spending the night together for some reason, but not sex.)
  • Did you replace me yet? (As in, did they find a new friend while you've been gone.)
  • Remember the times when we'd... (Good for reminiscing.)
  • I miss your ugly mug. (Old style for: I miss your face.)
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I miss you chum or pal -both unromantic

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  • And fairly anachronistic :p – HC_ Apr 17 '14 at 17:53
  • +1 But reminds me of this. – Elliott Frisch Apr 17 '14 at 18:01
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  • Stop being a stranger.
  • Where've you been?!
  • When you around again?
  • Not seen you in ages.
  • When you next free? We need a catchup.

Just be informal.

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  • This is painful to read, typical of what a teenage girl would say to her crush. – Darshan Chaudhary Sep 9 '16 at 7:39
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I think this is a very valid question, and it is hard to say you like someone without a hint of romance.

Maybe: "It is good to see you again!" (with a smile) if they are around for a moment.

or: "I enjoy your company. I wish you were around more often."

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"I'm feeling lonely without you", "Times are dull with you away" could express the sens of loss without being too emphatic.

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