In German
Liebe
Meaning: love
Formal or informal? The noun is “Liebe”. The verb is “lieben” (“Ich liebe dich”), which is intimate. For everyday affection, use “gern haben” or “mögen”.
Example sentences
DieLiebezurMusikistgroß.
Her love of music is great.
MitvielLiebekochtmeineMutter.
My mother cooks with a lot of love.
LiebeistdasWichtigsteimLeben.
Love is the most important thing in life.
Grammar note
“Die Liebe” is feminine, so it takes “die” and “eine”. The verb “lieben” is regular: ich liebe, du liebst, er liebt.
Common mistake
Don't mix the noun and verb. “Liebe” is the noun and “lieben” is the verb, so you say “Ich liebe dich”, not “Ich bin Liebe”.
Quick check
Which German noun means “love”?
More words on this topic
Keep learning German
Practise it in a lesson →Frequently asked questions
How do you say “I love you” in German?
“Ich liebe dich” is the intimate form. “Ich hab dich lieb” is a warm, family-friendly alternative.
What is the difference between “lieben” and “mögen”?
“Lieben” is strong and emotional, while “mögen” means you like something or someone.