ich bete dich an
/ɪç ˈbeːtə dɪç an/word by word
The English phrase "I adore you" is translated into German as ich bete dich an.
ich bete dich an is used to express deep love, intense devotion or extreme infatuation. It implies that you see the person as an object of worship or idolization.
Which one should you use?
While Ich liebe dich is the standard, common way to say "I love you," ich bete dich an is much more intense and carries the connotation of worship.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Southern Germany and Austria, it is common to hear I mog di to mean "I like/love you," or the phrase I mog di recht gern to express the same sentiment.
How do you pronounce it?
/ɪç ˈbeːtə dɪç an/
Did you know?
- The particle an in this phrase is used to create the meaning of 'at' or 'towards', but here it completes the sense of 'adoring'. Without it, the verb beten simply means 'to pray'.
- While ich bete dich an sounds poetic, the verb anbeten is also used sarcastically in German to describe someone who is obsessively devoted to a celebrity or a trend.
- The verb in ich bete dich an is a separable verb, meaning the prefix an can move to the very end of a sentence. For example, you might say, 'Ich bete dich den ganzen Tag an'.
Examples in context
- Ich bete dich an.I adore you.This sentence is useful for practicing the phrase ich bete dich an.Tatoeba #8861725 by mramosch, translation #436279 by lukaszpp
- Ich verehre Sie für Ihr Talent und Ihre Hingabe.I adore/respect you for your talent and dedication.
- Ich liebe dich, du bist einzigartig.I love/adore you, you are unique.
- Ich habe dich sehr gerne. Du bist mein Glück.I really like you. You are my happiness.
- Ich bete dich an, mein Schatz.I adore you, my darling.
- Du bist mein Ein und Alles, ich bete dich an.You are my everything, I adore you.
Example conversation
A romantic evening at home.
- SarahFelix, ich bete dich an.Felix, I adore you.
- FelixDas ist so lieb von dir, Sarah.That is so sweet of you, Sarah.
- SarahDu bedeutest mir alles.You mean everything to me.
- FelixUnd ich liebe dich auch.And I love you too.
Sources
- IPA marked “word by word” joins the Wiktionary pronunciations of each word (ich, Bete, dich, an) and can differ in connected speech.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
