What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of the possessive pronoun mijn (my) and the noun liefde (love).
Which one should you use?
mijn liefde can function as a direct address, but it typically refers to the feeling of love. For those looking for other ways to express affection, mijn schat (my treasure), mijn liefje (sweetheart) and mijn lieveling (my darling or my beloved) are informal alternatives. If you want to address a person directly as a term of endearment like "my love" or "sweetheart", the word lieverd is much more common and natural in Dutch.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Flanders, the variant Mijn liefke is commonly used to say "my love".
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation is /mɛi̯n ˈlif.də/. It has 3 syllables, and the stress is on the 2nd syllable.
When do people say it?
In Dutch, one might say Jij bent de liefde van mijn leven to mean "you are the love of my life".
Did you know?
- The word mijn has a completely different meaning when it refers to a 'mine' for extracting ore or an explosive device, coming from the Gaulish word for 'metal'.
- While mijn liefde is a poetic way to name a feeling, if you actually call your partner mijn liefde in a cafe, it may sound like you are reciting a line from a dramatic poem.
Examples in context
- Geef mijn liefde aan haar.Give my love to her.This sentence shows how to use mijn liefde when sending affection to someone else.Tatoeba #4256258 by davidvdb, translation #308826 by Dejo
- Hoe kan ik u mijn liefde tonen?How can I show you my love?This sentence demonstrates how to ask how to show mijn liefde to someone.Tatoeba #10714851 by Micsmithel, translation #2036219 by AlanF_US
- Mijn liefde voor jou is veel te sterk.My love for you is much too strong.This sentence uses mijn liefde to describe the strength of a feeling for someone.Tatoeba #4570772 by lonepawn, translation #3862817 by Amastan
- 6 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Noah and Emma are saying goodbye for the day.
- NoahTot morgen, mijn liefde.Until tomorrow, my love.
- EmmaSlaap lekker, Noah.Sleep well, Noah.
- NoahIk mis je nu al.I miss you already.
- EmmaIk ook, mijn liefde.Me too, my love.
Sources
- IPA marked “word by word” joins the Wiktionary pronunciations of each word (mijn, liefde) and can differ in connected speech.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries liefde, mijn, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
