Introduction

• Mögen means “to like” and expresses general fondness or preference.
• Lieben means “to love” and expresses deep, often romantic or profound affection.
• They are used in different contexts and convey different intensities of feeling.
• Example: Ich mag Schokolade. (I like chocolate.) vs. Ich liebe dich. (I love you.)

Meaning and Usage

Mögen

• Comes from the German modal tradition, used to express liking, preference, or mild affection.
• Can be followed by a noun, pronoun, or infinitive ("Ich mag dich." / "Ich mag schwimmen.").
• Also used in the subjunctive form möchte for polite requests (Ich möchte einen Kaffee. — I would like a coffee.).
• Example: Ich mag meinen Hund. (I like my dog.)

Lieben

• Directly means “to love,” conveying a strong, deep, and often emotional bond.
• Typically used in romantic or familial contexts, but can also express strong passion for things (e.g., Ich liebe Musik.).
• Used with nouns or pronouns, often including the object (Ich liebe dich. — I love you.).
• Example: Sie liebt ihre Mutter. (She loves her mother.)

Grammar and Conjugation

Mögen Conjugation (Present Tense)

Lieben Conjugation (Present Tense)

Important Notes

• Mögen is a modal-like verb but conjugates regularly.
• Lieben is a regular verb following standard -en conjugation.
• Be mindful of pronoun changes in conjugation.

Examples

Mögen Examples

• Ich mag dich.* — I like you.
• Magst du Eis?* — Do you like ice cream?
• Wir mögen das neue Buch.* — We like the new book.
• Magst du tanzen?* — Do you like to dance?

Lieben Examples

• Ich liebe dich.* — I love you.
• Er liebt seine Tochter.* — He loves his daughter.
• Wir lieben diesen Film.* — We love this movie.
• Sie liebt das Leben.* — She loves life.

Comparison Examples

Conclusion

• Mögen = to like; for general liking, preference, or mild affection.
• Lieben = to love; for deep, strong, or romantic affection.
• Use mögen in everyday situations and polite requests (möchte).
• Use lieben for emotional, romantic, or profound love.
• Don’t confuse the two: Ich mag dich is friendly, while Ich liebe dich is romantic and serious.