Ways to say it
| German | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| ich liebe dich | /ˈʔɪç ˈliːbə ˌdɪç/ | |
| ich habe dich lieb | ||
| ich habe Sie lieb | ||
| ich hoan dich gear | ||
| isch hab dsch gerne | ||
| ich liebe euch | plural | |
| ich habe euch lieb | plural | |
| ich liebe Sie | formal, plural, singular |
In German, the phrase used depends on the intensity and nature of the affection. ich liebe dich is a very heavy, serious declaration of romantic love, typically reserved for long-term partners or very deep romantic commitments. In contrast, ich habe dich lieb is a phrase used among couples and close friends to convey affection and warmth.
Which one should you use?
The forms differ based on the level of romantic intensity and the number of people being addressed. While ich liebe dich is used for intense romantic love, ich habe dich lieb is used for expressing affection toward friends, family members or children. To address more than one person, use the plural forms ich liebe euch or ich habe euch lieb instead of dich.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The phrase ich liebe dich is the most common and direct way to say I love you in an informal context. For formal situations, you can use ich liebe Sie to express love or ich habe Sie sehr gern to convey strong affection in a more formal manner.
How does it change in a sentence?
The word dich is the accusative form of du, which is required because lieben is a transitive verb that takes a direct object. When expressing love to more than one person, use euch instead of dich.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈʔɪç ˈliːbə ˌdɪç/
Did you know?
- In German, using ich liebe dich too early in a relationship can be seen as alarming or overwhelming due to its extreme weight.
- German uses the verb haben (to have) in the phrase ich habe dich lieb, effectively saying 'I have you dear'.
- The word lieb in ich liebe dich shares the same roots as the archaic English word 'lief', used in phrases like 'my heart's lief'.
Examples in context
- Ich liebe dich sehr.I love you very much.This sentence is useful for adding emphasis to your declaration using the form ich liebe dich.Tatoeba #816884 by al_ex_an_der, translation #400410 by sysko
- Ich liebe euch auch.I love you, too.This sentence is useful for responding to others using the form ich liebe euch.Tatoeba #2700064 by al_ex_an_der, translation #628763 by meloncurtains
- Auch ich liebe euch.I love you too.This sentence is useful for showing that the feeling is mutual using the form ich liebe euch.Tatoeba #2700065 by al_ex_an_der, translation #2688199 by Joseph
- Ich liebe dich, mein Schatz.I love you, my sweetheart.
- Schatz, ich liebe dich so sehr.Darling, I love you so much.
- Ich hab' dich lieb, süße / süßer.I love you, sweetie.
- Du und ich, wir sind füreinander bestimmt. Ich liebe dich über alles.You and I, we are meant for each other. I love you above all else.
- Sie sind für mich einzigartig. Ich liebe Sie.You are unique to me. I love you.
- Ich habe Sie sehr gern und schätze Ihre Präsenz in meinem Leben.I am very fond of you and value your presence in my life.
- 128 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
A romantic evening at a quiet restaurant.
- LauraIch liebe dich, Julian.I love you, Julian.
- JulianIch liebe dich auch, Laura.I love you too, Laura.
- LauraDas ist so schön zu hören.That is so lovely to hear.
- JulianDu bist mein Ein und Alles.You are my everything.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “I love you” translations and entries ich liebe dich, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries dich, euch, ich, lieb, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
