Liebe

/ˈliːbə/
love

Ich liebe dich.

I love you.


formalinformal

A deep, tender, and warm affection toward another person, often romantic but also familial or platonic.

Die Liebe zwischen ihnen war unzerbrechlich.

Their love was unbreakable.

Can refer to romantic love, familial love, or deep affection in general.

informal

A person one loves, often used as a term of endearment.

Meine Liebe, wie geht es dir?

My love, how are you?

Commonly used as a term of affection, similar to 'darling' or 'dear'.

Collocations

Liebe machento make loveLiebe auf den ersten Blicklove at first sightLiebe und Hasslove and hate

Related Phrases

Liebe geht durch den Magenproverb
the way to a person's heart is through their stomach

Pro Tip

Capitalization

In German, all nouns, including 'Liebe', are capitalized.

Gold Rule

Romantic vs. General Love

'Liebe' can refer to both romantic and non-romantic love. Context usually clarifies the meaning.

Word Origin

From Middle High German 'liebe', from Old High German 'liba', from Proto-Germanic 'lubō', meaning 'love, affection'.

Usage Notes

In German, 'Liebe' is a noun and is always capitalized. It can refer to romantic love, familial love, or deep affection in general. The verb form is 'lieben'.

Word Breakdown

Liebe
love
root
Deutsch-Englisch Wörterbuch