Ich liebe dich, mein Schatz
/ɪç ˈliːbə dɪç maɪ̯n ʃat͡s/word by word
The English phrase "I love you, my love" is expressed in German as Ich liebe dich, mein Schatz.
Ich liebe dich, mein Schatz is an expression of deep affection used to tell a romantic partner that you love them. It can be translated as "I love you, my treasure."
What does it mean word for word?
The term for "my love" used in this phrase, Schatz, literally translates to "treasure".
Which one should you use?
Ich liebe dich is reserved for deep, romantic love. In contrast, Ich hab' dich lieb is used to express affection toward friends and family members without romantic weight.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Austria, people may say I hab di liab to express "I love you".
How does it change in a sentence?
While mein Schatz is the most common way to say "my love", you can also use meine Liebe to refer to the person as "my love" in a more poetic or literal sense.
How do you pronounce it?
/ɪç ˈliːbə dɪç maɪ̯n ʃats/
Did you know?
- The word Schatz is a cognate of the Old English 'sċeatt' and is related to the word 'cattle'. In early Germanic languages, livestock was considered a primary form of wealth and treasure.
- In German, Ich liebe dich is often considered so intense that couples may avoid saying it until the relationship is very serious, favoring Ich hab' dich lieb for a longer period.
- The word Schatz is often shortened to Schatzi in casual conversation. Adding the 'i' ending is a common German way to create a diminutive that sounds cuter or more affectionate.
Examples in context
- Ich liebe dich, mein Schatz.I love you, my darling.
- Ich habe dich sehr lieb, mein Liebling.I care for you very much, my darling.
- Sag mir bitte: Ich liebe dich, mein Schatz.Please tell me: I love you, my love.
- Du bist alles für mich, ich liebe dich, mein Schatz.You are everything to me, I love you, my love.
Example conversation
A romantic dinner at a quiet restaurant.
- LauraDu siehst heute wunderschön aus.You look beautiful today.
- MaximilianDanke, Laura. Ich liebe dich, mein Schatz.Thank you, Laura. I love you, my love.
- LauraIch liebe dich auch sehr.I love you very much too.
- MaximilianIch bin so glücklich mit dir.I am so happy with you.
