In German
hassen
Meaning: to hate
Example sentences
Ichhassees,frühaufzustehen.
I hate getting up early.
ErhasstLügen.
He hates lies.
Grammar note
“Hassen” is a regular weak verb: “ich hasse, du hasst, er hasst”. Its direct opposite is “lieben” (to love); for a milder dislike, Germans often soften to “nicht mögen” (to not like) instead of the strong “hassen”.
Common mistake
Don't reach for “hassen” for everyday mild annoyances — it's a strong word, similar in intensity to English “hate”; for “I don't really like it”, “ich mag das nicht so” is the gentler, more common choice.
Quick check
Which German word means “to hate”?
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Practise it in a lesson →Frequently asked questions
What's the opposite of “hassen”?
“Lieben” (to love).
Is there a milder way to express dislike?
Yes — “nicht mögen” (to not like) is softer than “hassen” for everyday annoyances.