“Ich hab dich lieb”
Love you / I'm fond of you
Daily LifeInformalA2
Literal Translation
Word for word: “I have you dear”
Pronunciation
/ɪç haːp dɪç liːp/
When to Use This Phrase
This is the everyday way to say 'I love you' to family and close friends, and couples use it too as a softer alternative to 'Ich liebe dich'. In text messages it's often shortened to 'HDL'.
Example Sentences
Ich hab dich lieb, Mama!
Love you, Mom!
Gute Nacht, mein Schatz. Ich hab dich sehr lieb.
Good night, sweetheart. I love you very much.
Word Breakdown
Related Phrases
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