Ways to say it
| Dutch | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| ik haat je | /ɪk ɦaːt jə/ (stressed, word by word) | informal |
| ik haat u | /ɪk ɦaːt y/ (stressed, word by word) | formal |
| ik haat jullie | /ɪk ɦaːt ˈjʏli/ (stressed, word by word) | plural |
This phrase is an expression of intense dislike. While it is a direct translation, depending on the context, you might also hear phrases like Ik kan je niet uitstaan (I can't stand you), Ik vind je vreselijk (I find you awful or dreadful) or Ik heb een hekel aan je (I have a strong dislike for you).
Which one should you use?
The different forms are used depending on who you are addressing: ik haat je is used for one person you are on familiar terms with, while ik haat u is used for one person in a formal context. If you are expressing hatred toward a group of two or more people, use ik haat jullie.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
ik haat je is the informal version, suitable for use among close friends or siblings. ik haat u is the formal version, though expressing hatred in a formal register is rare and considered highly dramatic. For a more polite way to express strong dislike in formal situations, one might say Ik heb een grote hekel aan u.
How do you pronounce it?
/ɪk ɦaːt jə/
Did you know?
- The formal u has a history of being linked to very polite titles like uwe edelheid, which means 'your nobility'.
- Using ik haat je among siblings or close friends is often a way to express temporary frustration rather than genuine lifelong malice.
Examples in context
- Ik haat je, en toch hou ik van je.I hate you, yet I love you.This sentence is useful for showing the contrast between hating and loving someone using ik haat je.Tatoeba #4474982 by Raizin, translation #10221331 by megamanenm
- Ik haat je!I hate you!This sentence is useful for an emphatic use of ik haat je.Tatoeba #1497230 by Citrine, translation #1496819 by Spamster
- Ik haat je.I hate you.This sentence is useful for a standard declaration of ik haat je.Tatoeba #827307 by RaspaKrusto, translation #827295 by RaspaKrusto
Example conversation
Sophie and Levi are having a heated argument about a broken toy.
- LeviIk haat je!I hate you!
- SophieDat is niet eerlijk, Levi.That is not fair, Levi.
- LeviJe hebt mijn spullen kapotgemaakt.You broke my things.
- SophieHet was een ongeluk.It was an accident.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “I hate you” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- IPA marked “word by word” joins the Wiktionary pronunciations of each word (ik, haat, je, u, jullie) and can differ in connected speech.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries haat, ik, jullie, u, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
