ek het jou lief
In Afrikaans, 'I love you' can be expressed as ek het jou lief or ek is lief vir jou.
Meaning: affirmation of romantic feeling (phrase)
Ways to say it
| Afrikaans |
|---|
| ek het jou lief |
| ek is lief vir jou |
These phrases are used to express romantic feelings. You may also use Ek's mal oor jou to say 'I'm crazy about you' or Ek's verlief op jou to say 'I'm in love with you' in informal settings. To express deep devotion, you can say Jy is my alles, which means 'You are my everything'.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase ek het jou lief literally translates to 'I have you dear' or 'I hold you dear'. The phrase ek is lief vir jou literally translates to 'I am love for you'.
Which one should you use?
While both express affection, ek het jou lief is more formal and poetic. The form ek is lief vir jou is more commonly used in everyday speech.
Did you know?
- The word ek descends from the Proto-Indo-European root eǵh₂óm, making it a relative of the Latin word 'ego'.
- Unlike English, which uses one word for 'love' in almost all contexts, Afrikaans users often choose between lief for deep affection and hou van for liking something or someone.
- The word lief is also used as a noun to mean 'sweetheart' or 'beloved', so you can call your partner my lief.
Examples in context
- Ek is lief vir jou.I love you.This sentence is useful for practicing the phrase ek is lief vir jou.Tatoeba #450281 by wwkudu, translation #1434 by awael58
- Ek het jou lief, my skat.I love you, my darling.
Example conversation
A couple is sharing a quiet moment at sunset.
- LiezelJohan, ek het jou lief.Johan, I love you.
- JohanEk het jou ook lief, Liezel.I love you too, Liezel.
- LiezelJy is my hele hart.You are my whole heart.
- JohanEn jy is myne.And you are mine.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “I love you” translations and entries ek het jou lief, ek is lief vir jou, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ek, het, jou, lief, vir, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
