How to Say "I Love You" in Yiddish

איך האָב דיך ליב

ikh hob dikh lib

The English phrase "I love you" is expressed in Yiddish as איך האָב דיך ליב (ikh hob dikh lib). Wiktionary also lists איך ליבע דיך (ikh libe dikh).

Meaning: affirmation of romantic feeling (phrase)

Ways to say it

“I love you” in Yiddish
Yiddish	Romanization (Wiktionary)
איך האָב דיך ליב	ikh hob dikh lib
איך ליבע דיך	ikh libe dikh

Both forms are used as an affirmation of romantic feeling.

The phrase איך האָב דיך ליב literally translates to "I have you dear".

איך ליבע דיך uses a direct verb for "love", whereas איך האָב דיך ליב is the more common and idiomatic way to express romantic love in Yiddish.

The variation Ikh hob dikh liyb is more commonly used in Eastern European regions.

ikh hob dikh lib

The Yiddish word איך meaning 'I' is a close relative of the English word 'I', as both descend from the Proto-Indo-European root *eǵh₂óm.
In many dialects, the expression of romantic love evolved from older concepts of 'affection' and 'kindliness' rather than just pure passion.

איך האָב דיך ליב.
I love you.
This sentence is a simple way to say "I love you" using איך האָב דיך ליב.
Tatoeba #8253718 by shekitten, translation #1434 by awael58
איך האָב דיך ליב, לאָרי!
I love you, Laurie!
This sentence shows how to say "I love you, Laurie!" using איך האָב דיך ליב.
Tatoeba #8253776 by shekitten, translation #8253777 by shekitten
איך האָב דיך ליב, לאָרי.
I love you, Laurie.
Tatoeba #8253933 by shekitten, translation #1766785 by CN
2 more sentences on Tatoeba

A couple is saying goodbye before work.

יצחק Yitzchak

איך האָב דיך ליב, רייזל.
Ikh hob dikh lib, Reyzl.
I love you, Reyzl.
רייזל Reizel

איך האָב דיך אויך ליב, יצחק.
Ikh hob dikh oykh lib, Yitzkhok.
I love you too, Yitzkhok.
יצחק Yitzchak

האָב אָ גוטן טאָג.
Hob a gutn tog.
Have a good day.
רייזל Reizel

אַוּן, אַהוּבּן טאָג צו דיר אויך.
An, a gutn tog tsu dir oykh.
Yes, a good day to you too.

Sources

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