Basic Vocabulary for Likes and Dislikes in German
Key Verbs
Mögen (to like), lieben (to love), and nicht mögen or hassen (to dislike or to hate) are the most common verbs used to express preferences in German. Here are their forms in the present tense for the pronoun “ich” (I):
- Ich mag – I like
- Ich liebe – I love
- Ich mag nicht – I don’t like
- Ich hasse – I hate
Useful Nouns and Activities
Here are some common nouns and activities you can use with these verbs:
- Musik – music
- Sport – sports
- Schokolade – chocolate
- Lesen – reading
- Tanzen – dancing
- Kochen – cooking
Forming Sentences to Express Likes and Dislikes
Affirmative Sentences
To say you like something, simply use the verb “mögen” with the noun or activity:
- Ich mag Musik. – I like music.
- Ich liebe Schokolade. – I love chocolate.
- Ich mag Fußball spielen. – I like to play soccer.
Negative Sentences
To express dislike, add “nicht” (not) after “mag”:
- Ich mag Kaffee nicht. – I don’t like coffee.
- Ich hasse Spinnen. – I hate spiders.
Note: In spoken German, it’s also common to say “Ich mag kein Kaffee,” especially with countable or uncountable nouns.
Alternative Phrases for Likes and Dislikes
German offers several ways to express preferences beyond “mögen” and “lieben”:
- Ich interessiere mich für… – I am interested in…
- Ich finde … toll/super. – I think … is great.
- Ich kann … nicht ausstehen. – I can’t stand …
- … gefällt mir. – … pleases me / I like …
Examples:
- Ich interessiere mich für Geschichte. – I am interested in history.
- Pizza gefällt mir. – I like pizza.
- Ich kann Horrorfilme nicht ausstehen. – I can’t stand horror movies.
Expressing Degrees of Liking and Disliking
Sometimes you may want to express how much you like or dislike something. Here are some useful adverbs:
- sehr – very
- ein bisschen – a little
- überhaupt nicht – not at all
Examples:
- Ich mag Tennis sehr. – I like tennis very much.
- Ich mag Mathe ein bisschen. – I like math a little.
- Ich mag Spinat überhaupt nicht. – I don’t like spinach at all.
Asking Others About Their Preferences
Conversations are a two-way street. Here’s how to ask someone about their likes and dislikes:
- Was magst du? – What do you like?
- Magst du …? – Do you like …?
- Was sind deine Hobbys? – What are your hobbies?
- Was machst du gern? – What do you like to do?
Common Mistakes and Tips
- Be careful with word order: “nicht” usually comes after the object.
- With verbs like “gefallen,” the subject and object switch compared to English. For example, “Mir gefällt das Buch” literally means “To me, the book is pleasing.”
- Practice using different verbs and phrases to sound more natural and fluent.
Practice Makes Perfect with Talkpal
The best way to master expressing your likes and dislikes in German is through regular practice. Try using these phrases in your daily conversations, language exchanges, or with AI-powered tools like Talkpal. By integrating these expressions into real-life situations, you’ll gain confidence and fluency in no time.
Conclusion
Expressing likes and dislikes in German is an essential skill for anyone learning the language. By mastering key verbs, sentence structures, and alternative expressions, you’ll be able to share your preferences clearly and connect more deeply with German speakers. Keep practicing, stay curious, and let Talkpal support you on your journey to German fluency!
