was du magst
The English phrase "what you like" is translated into German as was du magst.
This phrase refers to the things or activities that a person enjoys or prefers. If you want to express that you are into or keen on something informally, you can use Ich stehe auf… To express a strong dislike for something, you can use Ich kann…nicht ausstehen.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of was (what), du (you) and magst (the conjugated form of mögen, to like).
How does it change in a sentence?
The form of the phrase changes depending on who you are addressing or the subject. Use was du magst when speaking to one friend, a child or a family member. If you are addressing a group of people informally, use was ihr mögt. For formal contexts, such as speaking to a stranger or a superior, use was Sie mögen. If you want to refer to what people in general like rather than a specific person, use was man mag.
Did you know?
- While mögen means 'to like', its root historically meant 'to be able to' or 'to have the strength'. In some dialects, this sense of 'ability' still lingers in specific expressions.
- If you are talking about what someone 'likes' in terms of food, Germans often use the word gern (gladly) with a verb instead of the verb mögen.
- Using du instead of Sie can be a social gamble. In some professional circles, switching to du without an explicit invitation is considered a breach of etiquette.
Examples in context
- Ich mag Fußball.I like soccer.
- Ich liebe Schokolade.I love chocolate.
- Ich liebe es, im Park spazieren zu gehen.I love going for walks in the park.
- Ich stehe auf Rockmusik.I'm into rock music.
- Ick find Schnitzel jut.I like schnitzel.
- Ich höre gerne Musik am Abend.I like listening to music in the evening.
- Ich interessiere mich für Kunst.I'm interested in art.
- Meine Eltern mögen Wein.My parents like wine.
- Erzähl mir, was du magst.Tell me what you like.
- Das ist genau das, was du magst.That is exactly what you like.
Example conversation
Lukas and Julia are deciding on a movie to watch.
- LukasWelchen Film wollen wir heute sehen?Which movie do we want to watch today?
- JuliaIch weiß nicht, was du magst.I don't know what you like.
- LukasIch mag Actionfilme am liebsten.I like action movies the most.
- JuliaDann schauen wir einen Actionfilm.Then let's watch an action movie.
