Liebhaber
/ˈliːpˌhaːbɐ/
The German phrase for "lovers" is Liebhaber.
Liebhaber refers to people involved in a romantic or sexual relationship. However, it is also frequently used to describe an enthusiast or an aficionado of a specific subject, such as a wine lover.
How does it change in a sentence?
The spelling for the masculine singular form and the masculine plural form is identical: Liebhaber.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈliːpˌhaːbɐ/
Did you know?
- While Liebhaber can mean 'lover', using it for a romantic partner can sometimes imply a clandestine or illicit affair rather than a committed relationship.
- The verb form 'liebhaben' is often used as a sweet, slightly old-fashioned way to say 'to love' someone in a gentle, affectionate sense.
- German distinguishes between Liebhaber (an aficionado) and Liebende (those in the act of loving), the latter being more poetic and less common in daily speech.
Examples in context
- Er ist einer ihrer vielen Liebhaber.He's one of her many lovers.This sentence is useful for identifying one person among many Liebhaber.Tatoeba #5288792 by Pfirsichbaeumchen, translation #5288745 by mailohilohi
- Sie waren begeisterte Liebhaber der klassischen Musik.They were enthusiastic lovers of classical music.
Example conversation
Hannah and Lukas are discussing a plot point in a novel.
- HannahSind die beiden Hauptfiguren eigentlich Liebhaber?Are the two main characters actually lovers?
- LukasJa, aber sie müssen ihre Liebe verheimlichen.Yes, but they have to keep their love a secret.
- HannahDas macht die Geschichte viel spannender.That makes the story much more exciting.
- LukasStimmt, es ist ein klassisches Drama.True, it is a classic drama.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry Liebhaber, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
