lieb haben

See also: liebhaben

German

Alternative forms

• liebhaben

Etymology

From lieb +‎ haben, thus literally “to have [someone] dear”. Compare Dutch liefhebben, Afrikaans liefhê.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈliːpˌhaːbən/, [ˈliːpˌhaːbm̩]
• Hyphenation: lieb ha‧ben

Verb

1. (somewhat informal) to love

   Ich hab dich lieb.

   I love you.

Usage notes

• The verb lieben (“to love”) does not exist in many traditional German dialects and may retain a slightly solemn sound in the contemporary language. Therefore, lieb haben is the most normal and “down-to-earth” way of expressing love in German, particularly among friends and family, but usually also between lovers.
• It is difficult to conceptualize the different sentimental values of both verbs. In some contexts, lieb haben may imply a weaker kind of love than lieben, whereas in others it may sound particularly affectionate. For instance, a formal declaration of love (“saying the L-word”) calls for the verb lieben, but a kiss good night will be accompanied by „Hab dich lieb!“.

Synonyms

• lieben