Ways to say it
| German | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| ich liebe dich | /ˈʔɪç ˈliːbə ˌdɪç/ | |
| ich habe dich lieb | /ɪç ˈhaːbə dɪç liːp/ (word by word) | |
| ich habe Sie lieb | /ɪç ˈhaːbə ziː liːp/ (word by word) | |
| ich hoan dich gear | ||
| isch hab dsch gerne | ||
| ich liebe euch | /ɪç ˈliːbə ɔɪ̯ç/ (word by word) | plural |
| ich habe euch lieb | /ɪç ˈhaːbə ɔɪ̯ç liːp/ (word by word) | plural |
| ich liebe Sie | /ɪç ˈliːbə ziː/ (word by word) | formal, plural, singular |
This phrase is an affirmation of romantic feeling. While it is commonly used between romantic partners and within families to express deep affection, other variations exist depending on whether the love is romantic or platonic and whether you are addressing one person or many.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase ich habe dich lieb literally translates to "I have you dear/beloved".
Which one should you use?
The forms differ based on the intensity of feeling and the number of people being addressed. ich liebe dich is used for deep, romantic love or intense passion. In contrast, ich habe dich lieb is used for a more casual, affectionate or platonic way of expressing love, such as with friends or family members. When addressing more than one person, you should use the plural forms ich liebe euch or ich habe euch lieb.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
ich liebe dich and ich habe dich lieb are the standard ways to express affection to individuals. ich habe dich lieb is often considered a colloquial version suitable for siblings, children or close family. For formal situations, ich liebe Sie or ich habe Sie lieb can be used when addressing someone with whom you are not familiar, though using a formal address in a romantic context is rare. The plural forms ich liebe euch and ich habe euch lieb are used when speaking to a group of people.
How does it change in a sentence?
The pronouns change based on the object of your affection: use dich for a single person you know well, and use euch when addressing more than one person. For formal addresses, use Sie.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈʔɪç ˈliːbə ˌdɪç/
Did you know?
- In many German-speaking cultures, ich liebe dich is considered a very heavy phrase and is often reserved for the most serious stages of a relationship.
- The word lieb in the phrase ich habe dich lieb shares the same root as the archaic English word 'lief', which meant 'dear' or 'beloved'.
- While ich liebe dich is the standard, regional dialects like those in the Southwest use ich hab dich gern to express a fondness that sits between friendship and romantic love.
Examples in context
- Ich liebe dich sehr.I love you very much.This sentence is useful for expressing the intensity of your love using the form ich liebe dich.Tatoeba #816884 by al_ex_an_der, translation #400410 by sysko
- Ich liebe euch auch.I love you, too.This sentence is useful for responding to someone else's affection using the form ich liebe euch.Tatoeba #2700064 by al_ex_an_der, translation #628763 by meloncurtains
- Auch ich liebe euch.I love you too.This sentence is useful for emphasizing that you also feel love for a group using the form ich liebe euch.Tatoeba #2700065 by al_ex_an_der, translation #2688199 by Joseph
- 128 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
A couple is having a romantic dinner at home.
- MaximilianIch liebe dich.I love you.
- JuliaIch liebe dich auch, Maximilian.I love you too, Maximilian.
- MaximilianDu bist meine große Liebe.You are my great love.
- JuliaDas ist so schön zu hören.That is so lovely to hear.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “I love you” translations and entries ich liebe dich, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- IPA marked “word by word” joins the Wiktionary pronunciations of each word (ich, Habe, dich, lieb, Sie, Liebe, euch) and can differ in connected speech.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries dich, euch, ich, lieb, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
