du liebst etwas
The English phrase "you love something" is translated into German as du liebst etwas.
In German, the verb lieben is used to express deep, romantic or intense affection. This is much stronger than the verb mögen, which is used for more casual liking of people or things. Depending on your level of enthusiasm, you might also use other expressions such as Ich habe eine große Liebe für… to express profound admiration, Ich bin begeistert von… to show excitement, or Ich verehre… to show deep reverence.
Which one should you use?
The choice of verb significantly changes the intensity of the sentiment. While lieben denotes intense passion, you should use mögen if you simply like something in a casual way. To show even more intensity, you can use Ich bin verrückt nach… (I'm crazy about…) or, in a very casual setting, Ich stehe total auf… (I'm totally into…).
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase changes based on whom you are addressing. The informal singular uses the pronoun du with the verb form liebst (as in du liebst etwas). The informal plural uses ihr with the verb form liebt (as in ihr liebt etwas). The formal version uses the pronoun Sie and the verb form lieben (as in Sie lieben etwas).
Did you know?
- While English speakers say they are 'into' something, Germans often use the phrase auf etwas stehen, which literally translates to 'to stand on something'.
- In some German dialects, the phrase Ich hab' dich lieb is used for friends and family, providing a middle ground between mögen and the romantic lieben.
- The pronoun du is a direct linguistic relative of the archaic English word 'thou'.
Examples in context
- Ich habe eine große Liebe für Kunst.I have a great love for art.
- Ich bin begeistert von der deutschen Kultur.I am thrilled about German culture.
- Ich verehre die Natur.I adore nature.
- Ich stehe total auf das neue Album.I'm totally into the new album.
- Ich bin verrückt nach Fußball.I'm crazy about soccer.
- Ich bin total begeistert von deinem neuen Auto.I'm totally excited about your new car.
- Du liebst etwas sehr.You love something very much.
- Du liebst etwas Schönes.You love something beautiful.
Example conversation
Julian and Julia are talking about their hobbies.
- JulianDu wirkst so glücklich, wenn du malst.You seem so happy when you paint.
- JuliaJa, ich glaube, du liebst etwas Ähnliches.Yes, I think you love something similar.
- JulianStimmt, ich liebe Musik sehr.That's true, I love music very much.
- JuliaDas passt perfekt zu uns beiden.That fits both of us perfectly.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries du, etwas, CC BY-SA 4.0.
