gefällt mir
The English phrase 'I like it' is expressed in German as gefällt mir.
The phrase gefällt mir is used to express that someone finds something pleasing or attractive.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is a construction that literally means 'pleases me'.
Which one should you use?
While gefällt mir is used for things that are aesthetically pleasing or provide a sense of enjoyment, Ich mag es is a more direct translation of 'I like it' used for general preferences.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In the Bavarian dialect, an informal way to say 'I like it!' is I mog's gern!
How does it change in a sentence?
Because the phrase uses the dative case, the person who likes the thing must be in the dative form (e.g., mir for 'me').
What mistakes should you avoid?
Avoid saying Ich gefällt. In German, the thing being liked is the subject and the person is the object mir.
Did you know?
- In modern digital culture, the Facebook 'Like' button is translated into German as Gefällt mir.
- While gefällt mir describes a feeling of pleasure, using it to describe a person can sometimes imply a physical or aesthetic attraction rather than a liking of their personality.
- In some German dialects, mir can actually mean 'we' instead of 'me'. This happened over centuries as wir blended into preceding verbs during speech.
Examples in context
- Es gefällt mir in Boston.I like it in Boston.This example shows how to express liking a specific location using gefällt mir.Tatoeba #3270664 by Pfirsichbaeumchen, translation #2377450 by CK
- Es gefällt mir, wenn du das tust.I like it when you do that.This example demonstrates using gefällt mir to express liking an action.Tatoeba #1977801 by Pfirsichbaeumchen, translation #1977679 by Spamster
- Es gefällt mir, wenn meine Freunde meine Sätze übersetzen.I like it when my friends translate my sentences.This example shows using gefällt mir to express liking an action performed by others.Tatoeba #2207107 by al_ex_an_der, translation #1779354 by Bah_Dure
- Die neue Büroausstattung gefällt mir sehr gut.I really like the new office furniture.
- Ich mag diesen Film, er ist sehr interessant.I like this movie, it's very interesting.
- Mir gefällt diese Idee für das nächste Firmenprojekt.I like this idea for the next company project.
- Der neue Song von dieser Band gefällt mir gut.I really like the new song from this band.
- Die Party gestern war super. Das finde ich klasse!The party last night was awesome. I think it's great!
- 6 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Maximilian and Laura are looking at a new painting in a gallery.
- MaximilianDas Bild gefällt mir.I like the painting.
- LauraEcht? Es gefällt mir auch sehr.Really? I like it a lot too.
- MaximilianDie Farben sind toll.The colors are great.
- LauraJa, das ist ein schönes Kunstwerk.Yes, it is a beautiful work of art.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries mir, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
