In German
Ich liebe dich
Meaning: I love you
Formal or informal? “Ich liebe dich” is intimate and usually reserved for a partner. With friends and family, “Ich hab dich lieb” is the everyday phrase.
Example sentences
Ichliebedich,Anna.
I love you, Anna.
IchliebedichmehralsallesaufderWelt.
I love you more than anything in the world.
Ichliebedichauch!
I love you too!
Grammar note
“dich” is the accusative form of “du”. Speaking to several people, say “Ich liebe euch”.
Common mistake
Don't say “Ich liebe du”. The pronoun must change to “dich”.
Quick check
Which of these means “I love you”?
More words on this topic
Keep learning German
Practise it in a lesson →Frequently asked questions
Can I say “Ich liebe dich” to a friend?
It's usually too strong. Use “Ich hab dich lieb”, which is common between friends and family.
How do I say “I love you” to several people?
Use “Ich liebe euch”, the plural form of “du”.