ich möchte
/ɪç ˈmœç.tʰə/word by word
The German phrase for 'I would like' is ich möchte.
The phrase ich möchte is a polite way to express a wish or a request for something.
Which one should you use?
While ich möchte is a polite way to express a wish, ich will (I want) is much more direct and can sound demanding or rude in many social situations.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Vienna, I tat gern… is an expression used to say 'I would like to…'.
How does it change in a sentence?
The form möchte is a subjunctive II form of the verb mögen, used here to express a polite wish. When followed by another verb, the second verb must be in the infinitive form and placed at the end of the sentence.
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation is /ɪç ˈmœç.tʰə/. It has 3 syllables, with the stress on the 2nd syllable.
Did you know?
- In some regions of Southern Germany and Austria, people may replace ich möchte with ich hätt' gern, which literally translates to 'I would have gladly'.
- The word ich has a prehistoric lineage that stretches back to the Proto-Indo-European root *eǵh₂óm. This makes it a distant linguistic relative of the English word 'I', despite the different sounds.
- In formal German writing, the phrase ich möchte is often replaced by ich würde gerne, which is even more indirect and cautious.
Examples in context
- Ich möchte es sehen.I would like to see it.This sentence is useful for expressing the desire to see something with ich möchte.Tatoeba #693510 by Pfirsichbaeumchen, translation #41846 by CK
- Ich möchte es mieten.I would like to rent it.This sentence is useful for expressing the desire to rent something with ich möchte.Tatoeba #13192555 by Biderl, translation #13193588 by Everybody
- Ich möchte auch gehen.I would like to go, too.This sentence is useful for expressing a desire to go with ich möchte.Tatoeba #1691519 by Pfirsichbaeumchen, translation #3735289 by CK
- Ich hätte gerne eine Tasse Kaffee, bitte.I would like a cup of coffee, please.
- Ich möchte ein Stück Kuchen, bitte.I would like a piece of cake, please.
- 184 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
A cafe in Berlin where Julia and Maximilian are ordering.
- JuliaIch möchte einen Tee, Maximilian.I would like a tea, Maximilian.
- MaximilianUnd ich möchte auch einen Tee.And I would also like a tea.
- JuliaMöchtest du auch ein Stück Kuchen?Would you also like a piece of cake?
- MaximilianNein danke, ich möchte nur den Tee.No thanks, I would only like the tea.
Sources
- IPA marked “word by word” joins the Wiktionary pronunciations of each word (ich, möchte) and can differ in connected speech.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ich, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
