What does it mean word for word?
Literally, the phrase means "I joy myself". It is a reflexive construction.
How does it change in a sentence?
To express excitement about a future event, you must use the preposition auf after the phrase, as in ich freue mich auf. If you want to express excitement or joy about something that is happening now or something that has already happened, use the preposition über instead.
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often mistakenly use ich bin aufgeregt to mean they are looking forward to something. However, in German, ich bin aufgeregt often implies that you are feeling nervous, agitated or restless.
When do people say it?
If you want to convey a very high level of excitement, you can use the alternative phrase Ich kann es kaum erwarten, which translates to "I can hardly wait".
Did you know?
- Using ich freue mich in a sarcastic tone is a common way for Germans to express that they are actually dreading a future event.
- In a professional German email, you might see wir freuen uns, which means 'we are excited' or 'we look forward to', even if the sender is the only person writing the message.
- The word ich shares a deep ancestral root with the English word 'I' and even the Latin 'ego', all tracing back to the Proto-Indo-European root *eǵh₂.
Examples in context
- Ich freue mich auf unseren neuen Türkischkurs.I am excited about our new Turkish course.This sentence shows how to express excitement about a future event using ich freue mich.Tatoeba #5540802 by ruth_tatoeba, translation #5544573 by Rawrren
- Ich bin begeistert von Ihrem Vorschlag.I am excited about your proposal.
- Ich freue mich auf das Konzert am Wochenende!I am excited about the concert this weekend!
- Ich kann es kaum erwarten, dich endlich wiederzusehen!I can hardly wait to see you again at last!
- Ich bin voller Vorfreude auf den Urlaub.I am filled with anticipation for the vacation.
- Ich bin so aufgeregt!I am so excited!
- Ich bin außerordentlich begeistert von deiner Idee.I am exceptionally excited about your idea.
- Ich freue mich auf den Urlaub.I am excited for the vacation.
- Ich freue mich sehr auf das Konzert.I am really looking forward to the concert.
Example conversation
Maximilian and Julia are discussing an upcoming trip.
- MaximilianWir fliegen morgen nach Berlin!We are flying to Berlin tomorrow!
- JuliaJa, ich freue mich schon sehr.Yes, I am already very excited.
- MaximilianWas möchtest du dort sehen, Julia?What do you want to see there, Julia?
- JuliaIch will die Museen besuchen.I want to visit the museums.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ich, mich, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
