mögen
to like · would like (möchte)
Mögen means 'to like' and is used to express liking people, things, or activities. In the subjunctive form 'möchte', it means 'would like' and is a polite way to express wishes or requests.
What mögen means
- to like — Expressing liking for people, things, or activities.
- would like (möchte) — Polite expression of a wish or request.
Heard in real German videos
Lines where mögen was actually spoken, from German videos watched with DeutschChat.
- Ich mag es hier oben nicht.I don't like it up here.
- Mist, er mag keinen Fisch.Damn, he doesn't like fish.
- Wer möchte Rührei essen?Who wants to eat scrambled eggs?
Example sentences
- Ich mag Schokolade.I like chocolate.
- Magst du klassische Musik?Do you like classical music?
- Ich möchte einen Kaffee, bitte.I would like a coffee, please.
- Wir möchten morgen ins Kino gehen.We would like to go to the cinema tomorrow.
Grammar
| Present (ich/du/er) | mag / magst / mag |
|---|---|
| Simple past | mochte |
| Perfect | hat gemocht |
| Separable | no |
| Case | accusative |
The subjunctive form 'möchte' is used as a polite alternative to 'wollen' (to want).
Common phrases
- Ich mag dich.I like you.
- Das mag sein.That may be true.
- Ich möchte lieber...I would rather...
The mistake English speakers make
English speakers often confuse 'mögen' with 'möchten' and use 'mögen' to express a wish, e.g., saying 'Ich mag ein Bier' instead of 'Ich möchte ein Bier'. Use 'möchte' for polite requests.
Don’t confuse it with
- wollen — Wollen expresses a stronger, more direct desire, while möchten is more polite.
- gefallen — Gefallen is used to say something pleases you, often with a dative object, while mögen takes an accusative object.
Questions learners ask
What is the difference between 'mögen' and 'möchten'?
'Mögen' means 'to like', while 'möchten' is the subjunctive form meaning 'would like' and is used for polite requests.
How do you conjugate 'mögen' in the present tense?
ich mag, du magst, er/sie/es mag, wir mögen, ihr mögt, sie/Sie mögen.
Can 'mögen' be used with another verb?
Yes, 'mögen' can be used with an infinitive to express liking to do something, e.g., 'Ich mag schwimmen.'