mögen
to like / would like (möchten)
mögen means to like / would like (möchten).
As a beginner, focus on möchten = would like. Use it for polite offers and requests.
We use the present tense to talk about what a patient can or is able to do right now.
| Person | Context | möchten (polite request) |
|---|---|---|
| ich | I | möchte |
| du | you (one person, informal) | möchtest |
| er/sie/es | he / she / it | möchte |
| wir | we | möchten |
| ihr | you (several people, informal) | möchtet |
| sie/Sie | they / you (formal, one or more people) | möchten |
German has three ways to say you:
- du – informal, one person
- ihr – informal, several people
- Sie – formal, one or more people (always capitalised when it means “you”)
The word sie (lowercase) can also mean she or they. Context and the verb form tell them apart:
- sie ist = she is
- sie sind = they are
- Sie sind = you are (formal)
Clinical register: In medical practice, use Sie with patients. Du/ihr are for colleagues, friends, or family.
Medical examples with the three you forms:
- Du möchtest Wasser haben
You (informal, one person) would like to have water - Ihr möchtet Wasser haben
You (informal, several people) would like to have water - Sie möchten Wasser haben
You (formal) would like to have water
- Wasser haben – have water
- Tee trinken – drink tea
- einen Termin haben – have an appointment
- Ruhe haben – have peace and quiet
- Affirmative: Ich möchte Wasser haben.
I would like to have water - Negative: Du möchtest Tee nicht trinken.
You (informal, one person) would not like to drink tea - Affirmative: Der Patient möchte einen Termin haben.
The patient would like to have an appointment - Affirmative: Sie möchten Ruhe haben.
You (formal) would like to have peace and quiet - Question: Möchtest du Wasser haben?
Would you (informal, one person) like to have water? - Negative: Wir möchten Tee nicht trinken.
We would not like to drink tea
- Conjugation — type the correct form for each person.
- Multiple choice — pick the verb that fits the sentence.
- Fill in the blank — type the missing modal form.
- Reorder — put the words in correct German order (modal in position 2, infinitive at the end).
- Dialogue — fill in the missing verb at the start of a doctor-patient question.
- Error correction — find and fix the wrong verb form.
- Translate — write the German sentence from English.
- Match — pair persons with forms or verbs with meanings.
Translate to German: You (formal) would like to have water
Show answer
Sie möchten Wasser haben.
Translate to German: You (informal, one person) would not like to drink tea
Show answer
Du möchtest Tee nicht trinken.
Ask the question in German: Would you (informal, one person) like to have an appointment?
Show answer
Möchtest du einen Termin haben?
Put the words in the correct order: möchte / Ruhe / Der / haben / Patient
Show answer
Der Patient möchte Ruhe haben
- Meaning: mögen means to like / would like (möchten).
- Key forms: Present forms of möchten: ich möchte, du möchtest, er/sie/es möchte, wir möchten, ihr möchtet, sie/Sie möchten.
- Word order: Subject + modal verb (conjugated) + main verb at the end.
- Register: Use Sie with patients; du/ihr with peers, friends or family.
Practice this verb with exercises, or take a mixed test with all verbs.