Ich hab dich lieb
friendly, warm
To a friend say Ich hab dich lieb, which expresses love without romance. Ich liebe dich is mostly kept for partners. It is also called Ich mag dich sehr and Du bist mir wichtig.
Meaning: affection for a friend (phrase)
Ways to say it
| German | Note |
|---|---|
| Ich hab dich lieb | friendly, warm |
| Ich mag dich sehr | friendly |
| Du bist mir wichtig | warm |
Ich hab dich lieb is used between close friends and in families. For milder affection say Ich mag dich sehr.
Which one should you use?
Ich liebe dich is strong and Germans use it rarely, mainly for romantic partners.
What mistakes should you avoid?
Saying Ich liebe dich to a friend can sound like a romantic confession.
Did you know?
- The phrase Ich hab dich lieb literally means "I have you dear".
Examples in context
- Ich hab dich lieb, Anna.I love you, Anna.
- Du bist mir wichtig.You are important to me.
- Ich mag dich sehr.I like you a lot.
Example conversation
Lena thanks her best friend Mira after a hard week.
- LenaDanke für alles, Mira.Thanks for everything, Mira.
- MiraImmer gern.Always happy to.
- LenaIch hab dich lieb.I love you.
