Liebe machen
/ˈliːbə‿ˌmaxŋ/
To make love in German is Liebe machen.
Liebe machen is used to describe engaging in sexual intercourse.
Meaning: to engage in sexual intercourse (verb)
Which one should you use?
While Liebe machen is a romanticized way to express this, Sex haben is the more common, direct and neutral way to say 'to have sex' in German.
How does it change in a sentence?
The past participle of this phrase is Liebe gemacht. In an infinitive clause using 'zu', the phrase becomes Liebe zu machen.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈliːbə ˌmaxŋ/
Did you know?
- While Liebe machen is a direct translation of 'make love', German speakers often prefer the phrase Miteinander schlafen meaning 'to sleep with one another'.
- The German verb machen comes from the Proto-Indo-European root *mag-, which originally meant 'to knead' or 'to mix'.
- In German, Liebe is almost always capitalized because it is a noun, regardless of its position in the phrase Liebe machen.
Examples in context
- Es gibt Frauen, mit denen wir Liebe machen und solche, mit denen wir darüber reden.There are women to whom we make love, and those, to whom we speak about it.This sentence shows how Liebe machen can be used when discussing women in relation to the act and conversation about it.Tatoeba #1910716 by Zaghawa, translation #1507472 by sacredceltic
- Sie haben letzte Nacht miteinander geschlafen.They slept together last night.
Example conversation
A couple is talking in their bedroom.
- JulianIch möchte jetzt mit dir Liebe machen.I want to make love with you now.
- SarahDas ist eine schöne Idee, Julian.That is a lovely idea, Julian.
- JulianIch liebe dich sehr, Sarah.I love you very much, Sarah.
- SarahIch liebe dich auch.I love you too.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “make love” translations and entries Liebe machen, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries Liebe, Liebe machen, machen, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
