German · Everyday Verbs
"to like" in German: mögen
mögen
Note: "I like it": es gefällt mir
To like in German is mögen. Say Ich mag das and Magst du Kaffee?. Softer wishes use möchte. A close alternative is es gefällt mir, but that is a different verb.
Food preference
Ich mag scharfe Soßen nicht.Speak with an AI partner · 7 days free
How to pronounce mögen
Say it
MUR-gen
/ˈmøːɡn̩/
MUR-gen. The ö is like e in "her" with rounded lips. Soft -en ending.
"to like" in German: quick reference
| German | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| mögen | to like Core verb for liking people, food, things. | Core verb for liking people, food, things. |
| ich mag / du magst / er mag | I/you/he like(s) Irregular present. | Irregular present. |
| möchte / möchten | would like Polite wish or order. | Polite wish or order. |
| es gefällt mir | I like it Different verb; common alternative. | Different verb; common alternative. |
How to use mögen in real life
- 1Food preference
Ich mag scharfe Soßen nicht.
I don't like spicy sauces.
Mag + object for likes and dislikes.
- 2Asking a friend
Magst du den neuen Lehrer?
Do you like the new teacher?
Magst is the du form of mögen.
- 3Polite order
Ich möchte einen Salat, bitte.
I'd like a salad, please.
Möchte counts as a mögen-family form for polite wants.
Mistakes English speakers make with mögen
Incorrect: Ich möge Pizza.
Correct: Ich mag Pizza.
Present first person is ich mag, not ich möge in everyday speech.
Incorrect: Es gefällt mir Pizza. (only)
Correct: Ich mag Pizza. / Pizza gefällt mir.
With gefallen the thing liked is usually the subject: Pizza gefällt mir. Or use mag.
Good to know
Ich mag dich is warmer than English "I like you" and can sound romantic depending on tone. For mild preference, Germans also say ganz okay or geht so instead of a strong mag.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
Picking a series to watch
ChatPal
Magst du Krimis oder Komödien?
Do you like crime shows or comedies?
You
Ich mag Komödien mehr, ehrlich.
I like comedies more, honestly.
ChatPal
Gut, dann schauen wir heute etwas Leichtes. Magst du das?
Good, then we'll watch something light today. Do you like that?
You
Ja. Ich mag Folgen unter 30 Minuten.
Yes. I like episodes under 30 minutes.
This is a sample. In ChatPal you have this conversation out loud and get feedback on what you say.
Practice this conversation in ChatPal"to like" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "to like" in German
How do you conjugate mögen?
Ich mag, du magst, er/sie/es mag, wir mögen, ihr mögt, sie mögen.
What is the difference between mag and möchte?
Mag states a like. Möchte means would like, often for orders.
Is es gefällt mir the same as mögen?
Similar meaning, different verb. Prefer mag for the headword mögen.
How do you say I don't like it?
Ich mag das nicht.
Learn a word, then use it out loud
- Step 1: See it in context
- Step 2: Say it out loud
- Step 3: Get feedback
- Step 4: Use it in real scenarios
