01
die Liebe
love
A deep feeling of strong affection and connection to a person.
example
Die Liebe zwischen den beiden war für jeden sichtbar.
The love between the two of them was visible to everyone.
die Liebe
love
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Meanings
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Usage tips
Word family
'Die Liebe' (love) belongs to the word family of the verb 'lieben' (to love). If you know the verb, you can remember the noun more easily, and vice versa.
EXAMPLE
Ich liebe dich.
I love you.
Typical collocations
Common fixed expressions are 'Liebe auf den ersten Blick' (love at first sight), 'jemandem seine Liebe gestehen' (to confess one's love to someone), or 'aus Liebe' (out of love).
EXAMPLE
Für sie war es Liebe auf den ersten Blick.
For her, it was love at first sight.
Correct preposition
When 'Liebe' (love) describes enthusiasm for something, the preposition 'zu' is used. It often merges with the article to form 'zur' (zu der) or 'zum' (zu dem).
EXAMPLE
Ihre Liebe zur Musik hat sie zum Beruf gemacht.
She turned her love of music into her profession.
Context clue
You can tell from the context whether the feeling or the person is meant. When 'Liebe' (love) is used with a possessive pronoun and the verb 'sein' (to be), it often refers to the person.
EXAMPLE
Du bist meine große Liebe.
You are my great love.
Compare with
Liebe vs Sex
sex
'die Liebe' and 'der Sex' can both be part of a close relationship between people, but they do not mean the same thing. 'Liebe' mainly means a deep feeling of closeness, affection, and connection. In the expression 'Liebe machen' (to make love), it can also refer to sexual intercourse, but the expression sounds more tender and often emphasizes emotional closeness. 'Sex' refers more directly to physical sexual acts. Learners may confuse the words because both occur in romantic relationships. In practice: use 'Liebe' for feelings, and 'Sex' for the physical act.
Liebe
Nach vielen Jahren ist die Liebe zwischen Maria und Paul immer noch stark.
After many years, the love between Maria and Paul is still strong.
Sex
In ihrer Beziehung sprechen sie offen über Sex und ihre Wünsche.
In their relationship, they talk openly about sex and their desires.
In real life
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