{"id":94501,"date":"2023-10-17T08:39:37","date_gmt":"2023-10-17T12:39:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/learn\/i-miss-you-in-german\/"},"modified":"2025-01-29T01:32:24","modified_gmt":"2025-01-29T06:32:24","slug":"i-miss-you-in-german","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/german\/i-miss-you-in-german\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Say “I Miss You” in German"},"content":{"rendered":"

No matter what language you use, it\u2019s essential to know how to express your yearning for someone\u2019s presence, and for expressing how much you miss them.<\/p>\n

In German, these expressions are typically quite short, which fortunately makes them easy to remember. But their brevity makes them no less poignant or meaningful.<\/p>\n

Ich vermisse dich<\/em> is one of the most common ways to say “I miss you” in German. Read on to learn about this phrase, and more heartfelt ways you can say \u201cI miss you\u201d in German, plus traditional responses that can be offered in return.<\/p>\n

[fluentu-toc]<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

How to Say \u201cI Miss You\u201d in German<\/h2>\n

1. Ich vermisse dich<\/em> \u2014 I miss you<\/h3>\n

These three simple words are the most direct way to get your feelings across<\/a>\u2014no fluff or fetter.<\/p>\n

Vermisse<\/em> comes from vermissen<\/em> (to miss), while the accusative pronoun dich<\/em> (you) is used.<\/p>\n

You can also add adverbs to further the sentiment, such as by saying Ich vermisse dich<\/em> so sehr<\/em><\/strong> (I miss you so much<\/strong>).<\/p>\n

Notice that the phrase\u2019s structure is very similar to the English phrase \u201cI miss you,\u201d making it very easy to remember.<\/p>\n

Here’s an example:<\/p>\n

Sara, ich vermisse dich<\/strong>! Wann sehen wir uns wieder?<\/em> \u2014 Sara, I miss you! When will we see each other again?<\/p>\n

2. Du fehlst mir<\/em> \u2014 I\u2019m missing you<\/h3>\n

The verb used here is fehlen<\/em>, which can take on slightly different meanings depending on the context. Here, it means \u201cto lack\u201d or \u201cto be missing,\u201d but it could also mean \u201cto fail\u201d or \u201cto be mistaken.\u201d<\/p>\n

Poetically, though, the verb perhaps captures the \u201cwrongness\u201d that comes from someone\u2019s absence.<\/p>\n

Fehlen<\/em> is also a dative verb, which means the thing being missed goes in the dative case<\/a>. This is why you see du<\/em> (you) at the start of the sentence and mir<\/em> (dative of pronoun ich<\/em>) following fehlst<\/em> (which is conjugated to the du<\/em> form). Translated very literally, du fehlst mir<\/em> means \u201cYou are missing to me.\u201d<\/p>\n

Check out this example sentence:<\/p>\n

Du fehlst mir<\/strong>, mein Schatz. Bleib sicher!<\/em> \u2014 I miss you, my dear. Stay safe!<\/p>\n

3. Ich w\u00fcnschte, du w\u00e4rst hier<\/em> \u2014 I wish you were here<\/h3>\n

Since we\u2019re discussing something imagined or wished for, the subjunctive II form<\/a> is used here.<\/p>\n

Firstly, you might be wondering why it’s the subjunctive w\u00fcnscht<\/strong>e\u00a0<\/em>and not just the present tense w\u00fcnsche<\/em>. Is the wishing hypothetical too?!<\/p>\n

Fear not, your wishes are very real. With w\u00fcnschen, <\/em>you use the subjunctive form when talking about desires that are impossible or unlikely to be fulfilled. Whereas the reflexive sich w\u00fcnschen\u00a0<\/em>is more used for immediate or realizable desires, almost like saying “I want” or “I’d like”.<\/p>\n

Continuing on with the subjunctive fun,\u00a0 w\u00e4rst <\/em>is the du<\/em> form of the verb w\u00e4ren<\/em> (would be), which is the subjunctive II form of the verb sein<\/em> (to be)<\/a>. The comma in the sentence is used to separate the two independent clauses: Ich w\u00fcnschte and du w\u00e4rst hier<\/em>.<\/p>\n

When pronouncing this phrase, pay special attention to those umlauts.<\/a> The \u00fc<\/em> in w\u00fcnsche<\/em> is pronounced like \u201cooh,\u201d and the \u00e4<\/em> in w\u00e4rst<\/em> is pronounced more like \u201ceh.\u201d Make sure you sound them out correctly so that the meaning of the phrase is clear.<\/p>\n

Here’s an example:<\/p>\n

London ist so wundersch\u00f6n. Ich w\u00fcnschte, du w\u00e4rst hier<\/strong>.<\/em> \u2014 London is so beautiful. I wish you were here.<\/p>\n

4. Ich bin einsam ohne dich<\/em> \u2014 I’m lonely without you<\/h3>\n

Here\u2019s one that will pull heartstrings. You\u2019re not just casually suggesting that you\u2019d like someone to be around you\u2014you\u2019re feeling utterly isolated without them by your side.<\/p>\n

The adjective einsam<\/em> is formed from ein<\/em> (one) and the suffix –sam<\/em>, which turns nouns and verbs into adjectives. This is how einsam<\/em> ends up meaning \u201clonely.\u201d<\/p>\n

Within this sentence, the adjective doesn\u2019t get conjugated since no noun directly follows it. You may also say Es ist einsam ohne dich<\/em> (It\u2019s lonely without you).<\/p>\n

It\u2019s guaranteed that this honest expression will be sure to melt your loved one\u2019s heart.<\/p>\n

Here’s an example of this phrase in context:<\/p>\n

Ich bin mit meiner Familie hier, aber ich bin einsam ohne dich<\/strong>.<\/em>\u00a0 \u2014 I’m with my family here, but I’m lonely without you.<\/p>\n

5. Ich kann es kaum erwarten, dich zu sehen<\/em> \u2014 I can\u2019t wait to see you<\/h3>\n

Here\u2019s a way to add a hopeful, positive spin to your loneliness. If you\u2019re expecting to make a return to your loved one, then express your excitement about the upcoming reunion.<\/p>\n

You may be wondering, what\u2019s the point of es<\/em> (it) here? It\u2019s required because it must be specified what exactly you can kaum<\/em> (hardly) erwarten<\/em> (to await) for: in this case, it would be dich zu sehen<\/em> (to see you).<\/p>\n

The es<\/em> connects the two clauses together. Don\u2019t forget to say it\u2014not only will it be incorrect if you do, but it\u2019ll be tough to say Ich kann kaum<\/em> without stumbling.<\/p>\n

Here’s an example:<\/p>\n

Ich komme bald zur\u00fcck. Ich kann es kaum erwarten, dich zu sehen<\/strong>.<\/em> \u2014 I am coming back soon. I can\u2019t wait to see you.<\/p>\n

6. Ich denke an dich<\/em> \u2014 I think of you<\/h3>\n

It may not be as straightforward as Ich vermisse dich<\/em>, but the more bashful of us (including myself) may instead prefer this sincere, sweet expression.<\/p>\n

Personally, I find that just saying \u201cI miss you\u201d tends to get me flustered or weepy. \u201cI think of you\u201d feels like a more snug expression that can fit more of my emotions: my sober loneliness, my happy reflections and my hope to see that person again.<\/p>\n

An<\/em> is a preposition that typically means \u201cat\u201d or \u201con,\u201d but here, it functions more like \u201cof.\u201d It’s one of those tricksy dual-case prepositions<\/a> that can take either the dative or the accusative case. In such cases where it’s being used to refer to cognitive thought, whether that’s memories or ideas, it’s always followed by the dative. Hence why it’s\u00a0an dich\u00a0<\/em>and not\u00a0an dir<\/del><\/em>.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Here’s an example sentence:<\/p>\n

Wenn ich weit weg bin, denke ich<\/strong> oft an dich<\/strong>.<\/em> \u2014 When I’m far away, I often think of you.<\/p>\n

To hear these phrases in context, search for one of them in FluentU<\/a>‘s large German-language video library. There you’ll be able to hear these “I miss you” phrases spoken by native German speakers in context in authentic videos like movie trailers, news clips, vlogs and music videos.<\/p>\n

Responding to \u201cI Miss You\u201d in German<\/h2>\n

Would you really say nothing if someone tells you that they miss you? Unless you want to break their heart, of course not! You\u2019ll want to return the sentiment somehow.<\/p>\n

Here are just a few simple ways you can respond to \u201cI miss you.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ich vermisse dich auch<\/em> \u2014 I miss you too<\/h3>\n

The classic response to Ich vermisse dich<\/em><\/strong> and likely the easiest one to remember.<\/p>\n

All you have to do is add the adverb auch<\/em> (also). You can make it even simpler by just saying Ich dich auch<\/em><\/strong> which translates to \u201cI you also\u201d \u2014 the verb vermissen<\/em> will already have been specified so it can be dropped.<\/p>\n

Du fehlst mir auch<\/em> \u2014 I\u2019m missing you too<\/h3>\n

The direct response to Du fehlst mir<\/em><\/strong>, again created by just adding auch<\/em>.<\/p>\n

While you could technically just say du mir auch<\/em><\/strong>, I recommend you just say the whole phrase with the verb.<\/p>\n

Be careful not to say du mich auch<\/em>, as that can be an offensive slang phrase when the context isn\u2019t specified.<\/p>\n

Ich f\u00fchle das gleiche<\/em> \u2014 I feel the same<\/h3>\n

A response that likely works best with phrases like the last four in the previous list.<\/p>\n

The verb used here is f\u00fchlen<\/em> (to feel), not to be confused with fehlen<\/em> (to miss). Gleiche<\/em> can be a bit hard to pronounce\u2014remember that there\u2019s a bit of a \u201chiss\u201d when sounding out ch<\/em>.<\/p>\n

Du kannst mich jederzeit anrufen<\/em> \u2014 You can call me anytime<\/h3>\n

Modern technology has helped to lessen the impact of physical distance. Remind your loved one that, if it becomes too much, you\u2019re always available via your phone, computer or tablet.<\/p>\n

Anrufen<\/em> (to call) is a separable verb<\/a>. Its prefix an<\/em>– is a preposition that shifts position during certain conjugations.<\/p>\n

For example, if you\u2019d like to be more commanding and implore someone to contact you, you can say Ruf mich an!<\/em><\/strong> (Call me!)<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Near, far, wherever they are, your loved one deserves to know that you\u2019re thinking of them.<\/p>\n

Any of these simple phrases can help you communicate your feelings, so take the time to learn them in anticipation of a time in which you\u2019ll be separated from someone for a while!<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

And One More Thing...<\/h2>\r\n

\r\n\tIf you're like me and enjoy learning German through movies and other media, you should check out FluentU<\/strong><\/a>. With FluentU, you can turn any subtitled content on YouTube or Netflix into an engaging language lesson. \r\n<\/p>\r\n\t

\r\n\t\tI also love that FluentU has a huge library of videos picked specifically for German learners<\/strong>. No more searching for good content\u2014it's all in one place!\r\n<\/p>\r\n\"learn-german-with-videos\"<\/a>\r\n

\r\n\tOne of my favorite features is the interactive captions<\/strong>. You can tap on any word to see an image, definition, and examples, which makes it so much easier to understand and remember.\r\n<\/p>\r\n

\r\n\"learn-german-vocab-with-fluentu\"<\/a> \r\n<\/p>\r\n

\r\nAnd if you're worried about forgetting new words, FluentU has you covered. You'll complete fun exercises to reinforce vocabulary<\/strong> and be reminded when it\u2019s time to review, so you actually retain what you\u2019ve learned.\r\n<\/p>

\r\n\"practice-german-with-adaptive-quizzes\"<\/a> \r\n<\/p>\r\n

\r\nYou can use FluentU on your computer or tablet, or download the app from the App Store or Google Play. Click here to take advantage of our current sale! (Expires at the end of this month.)<\/a>\r\n<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

No matter what language you use, it\u2019s essential to know how to express your yearning for someone\u2019s presence, and for expressing how much you miss them. In German, these expressions…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":413,"featured_media":248968,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"slim_seo":{"title":"How to Say \"I Miss You\" in German | FluentU German Blog","description":"Knowing how to say \"I miss you\" in German is important, especially when you're far away from friends and family. This post covers six key ways to express that you miss someone in German. We've included the necessary grammatical and pronunciation information as well. We also include customary responses to \"I miss you.\""},"footnotes":""},"categories":[525,528],"tags":[],"coauthors":[185],"class_list":["post-94501","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-german","category-vocabulary"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/94501","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/413"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=94501"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/94501\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":244698,"href":"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/94501\/revisions\/244698"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/248968"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=94501"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=94501"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=94501"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=94501"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}