ליבע
libefeminine
In Yiddish, the English phrase "love" is translated as ליבע (libe). Wiktionary also lists אַהבֿה (aave) and ליבשאַפֿט (libshaft).
Meaning: strong affection (noun)
Ways to say it
| Yiddish | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| ליבע | libe | feminine | |
| אַהבֿה | aave | /ˈa(h)avə/ /aˈhavə/ |
feminine |
| ליבשאַפֿט | libshaft | feminine |
The primary way to express the concept of strong affection is through the noun ליבע. If you wish to express the action of loving someone, you can use the verbal phrase ליב האָבן.
Which one should you use?
While ליבע refers to the emotion of love, ליבשאַפֿט refers to a romantic relationship or a love affair. Additionally, אַהבֿה is a more formal or literary term for love compared to the more common ליבע.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The adjective form used to describe someone as "dear" or "beloved" is ליב. All three main forms of the noun, אַהבֿה, ליבע and ליבשאַפֿט, are feminine.
How do you pronounce it?
libe
When do people say it?
In Yiddish, when expressing that you love someone colloquially, it is common to say איך האָב דיר ליב, which translates literally to "I have you dear".
Did you know?
- The word ליבע shares a prehistoric root with the English word 'love' through the Proto-Indo-European word *lewbʰ-, meaning 'love, care or desire'.
- The suffix in ליבשאַפֿט comes from ־שאַפֿט, a Germanic ending used to turn an abstract quality into a formal state or condition.
Examples in context
- די ליבע איז דרעק.Love sucks.This sentence uses ליבע to describe a negative experience of love.Tatoeba #9688136 by shekitten, translation #1119328 by Amastan
- ליבע איז די רפֿואה.Love is the cure.This sentence uses ליבע to describe love as a remedy.Tatoeba #12341370 by rul, translation #12206215 by kleberlucas
- ליבע בײַט כּמעט אַלץ.Love changes almost everything.This sentence uses ליבע to describe the transformative power of love.Tatoeba #11532694 by shekitten, translation #9970930 by shekitten
- 47 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Avraham and Sarah are talking about their relationship.
- אברהם Avrahamאיך האָב אַ גרוסע ליבע צו דיר.Ikh hob a gruse libe tsu dir.I have a great love for you.
- שרה Saraאיך פֿיל אויך די זעלבע ליבע.Ikh fil oykh di zelbe libe.I feel the same love.
- אברהם Avrahamליבע מאַכט אַלעס בעסער.Libe makht ales beser.Love makes everything better.
- שרה Saraדאָס איז אמת, אברהם.Dos iz emes, Avraham.That is true, Avraham.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “love” translations and entries ליבע, אַהבֿה, ליבשאַפֿט, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries אַהבֿה, ליבע, ליבשאַפֿט, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
