❤️👤

How to Say ‘I like you.’ in German

Du bist mir sympathisch.

doo bist meer zoom-PAH-tish

[doo bist meer zoom-PAH-tish]

💬 Usage Tip: sympathisch doesn't mean "sympathetic"; it means likeable. Note who does the liking: you are likeable "to me" (mir).

🇩🇪 In Germany: This is a warm but safe way to signal interest. It is friendlier than neutral, but far softer than anything romantic.

Phrase Breakdown

Du bist mir

doo bist meer

you are to me

'Du' is informal 'you'. 'Mir' is the dative of 'ich' and means 'to me'.

Example

Du bist mir wichtig.

You are important to me.

Words in this phrase

[doo]

the informal 'you' (du form)

As a noun, 'das Du' means the informal way of addressing someone.

Example

Wir sind jetzt per Du.

We now use first names / informal 'you'.

bist

[bist]

are (you are)

Form of 'sein' (to be) used with 'du'.

Example

Du bist mein Freund.

You are my friend.

mir

[meer]

to me

Dative pronoun used to show that something matters or happens to the speaker.

Example

Mir ist eine offene Kommunikation besonders wichtig.

Open communication is especially important to me.

sympathisch.

zoom-PAH-tish

likeable / nice

This is a false friend. It means 'likeable', not 'sympathetic'. Stress the second syllable: züm-PA-tisch.

Example

Er ist sehr sympathisch.

He is very likeable.

Words in this phrase

sympathisch

[zoom-PAH-tish]

likeable, nice

Describes someone who seems pleasant and friendly; not the same as English 'sympathetic'.

Example

Der neue Kollege ist sehr sympathisch.

The new colleague is very likeable.

Guides for German learners

Duolingo vs Pimsleur: Tapping on a Screen or Talking Out Loud?Duolingo vs Pimsleur: five minutes of tapping versus thirty minutes of speaking. What each is good at, what each costs, and which to pick for your goal.

Get the Full Learning Experience

This lesson is just a preview. Download PrettyFluent to practice pronunciation, roleplay conversations, and master vocabulary with spaced repetition.

Pronunciation Feedback

AI-powered feedback on what you say out loud

Spaced Repetition

Retain vocabulary long-term with smart practice

Immersive Roleplaying

Practice real conversations with AI partners

Lessons for Your Situation

Request lessons tailored to your specific needs

Get Full Lesson

What Learners Are Saying

“Berlin bureaucracy requires real German. This app got me from zero to handling my Anmeldung appointment in three weeks. My coworkers couldn’t believe it.”

Emma L., 27, UX Researcher

“Relocated to Munich with my family. The everyday scenarios — grocery shopping, doctor visits, school meetings — are exactly what we needed to settle in.”

Marcus J., 40, Engineer

“Learning a language has never been as immediately impactful. Now I can charm the locals and navigate the food scene like a boss.”

Alex M., 42, Software Engineer