ich liebe dich sehr
/ɪç ˈliːbə dɪç zeːr/word by word
The English phrase "I love you very much" is translated into German as ich liebe dich sehr.
The phrase ich liebe dich sehr is a strong expression of deep affection or romantic love for another person. It is primarily used in romantic contexts to express deep, serious emotional commitment.
Which one should you use?
While ich liebe dich sehr is used for intense romantic love, the phrase Ich hab' dich lieb is a less intense, more casual way to express affection, often used with friends or family. For a more playful or child-friendly tone, Ich hab' dich ganz doll lieb. can also be used to mean "I love you very much."
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase ich liebe dich sehr is built upon the core declaration ich liebe dich. Because lieben is a transitive verb that takes a direct object, the word dich is used as the accusative form of du.
How do you pronounce it?
/ɪç ˈliːbə dɪç zeːr/
When do people say it?
The phrase Ich hab' dich ganz doll lieb. is particularly popular among children.
Did you know?
- The word sehr traces its roots back to the Old High German word sēr, which originally meant 'injured' or 'sore'.
- While English speakers use 'love' for almost everything from pizza to partners, German speakers must be careful to use ich liebe dich only for the most serious emotional commitments.
- In German, there is a strict hierarchy of affection where using the phrase ich liebe dich sehr with a close friend might actually be seen as too intense or even awkward.
Examples in context
- Ich liebe dich sehr.I love you very much.This sentence is useful for practicing the phrase ich liebe dich sehr.Tatoeba #816884 by al_ex_an_der, translation #400410 by sysko
- Ich liebe dich sehr, mein Schatz.I love you very much, my darling.
- Vergiss bitte nie: Ich liebe dich sehr.Please never forget: I love you very much.
Example conversation
Laura and Maximilian are sitting together on a park bench at sunset.
- LauraDu bist die wundervollste Frau.You are the most wonderful woman.
- MaximilianUnd ich liebe dich sehr, Laura.And I love you very much, Laura.
- LauraDas ist so schön zu hören.That is so lovely to hear.
- MaximilianIch bin so froh, dass ich dich habe.I am so happy that I have you.
Sources
- IPA marked “word by word” joins the Wiktionary pronunciations of each word (ich, Liebe, dich, sehr) and can differ in connected speech.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries dich, ich, sehr, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
