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 perfect tense to say what someone has had to do, has been able to do, etc. The modal stays as an infinitive at the very end.
| 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: Der / möchte / haben / Patient / Ruhe
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 + haben (conjugated) + ... + main verb infinitive + modal infinitive.
- 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.