In 15 Seconds
- Used specifically for social media 'like' buttons.
- Follows regular German verb conjugation rules.
- Commonly used in 'Denglisch' by younger generations.
Meaning
To 'like' a post, photo, or video on social media. It is the digital act of clicking the heart or thumbs-up button.
Key Examples
3 of 6Asking a friend about a photo
Hast du mein neues Bild schon geliked?
Have you liked my new picture yet?
Discussing social media habits
Ich like eigentlich fast alles auf Twitter.
I actually like almost everything on Twitter.
In a social media marketing meeting
Unsere Kunden liken vor allem die Videos.
Our customers mostly like the videos.
Cultural Background
Privacy is huge. Many Germans are cautious about what they like because it's visible to others and tracked by algorithms. Similar to Germany, but in very informal Viennese circles, you might hear more creative slang for digital approval. Swiss German speakers use 'liken' but often with their own dialectal pronunciation and verb endings. For younger Germans, 'liken' is a low-stakes way of saying 'I saw this'. Not liking a best friend's post can be seen as a slight.
Spelling
Always use 'gelikt' in writing tests to impress your teacher with your Duden knowledge.
Context
Never say 'Ich like dich' to a person in real life unless you want to sound like a robot.
In 15 Seconds
- Used specifically for social media 'like' buttons.
- Follows regular German verb conjugation rules.
- Commonly used in 'Denglisch' by younger generations.
What It Means
liken is a classic example of 'Denglisch'—English words adopted into German. It refers specifically to the digital action of clicking a 'like' button. You won't find this word in 19th-century literature. It is strictly for the world of pixels and screens. When you liken something, you are giving it a digital thumbs-up. It is fast, casual, and very modern. It is the heartbeat of German social media interaction.
How To Use It
You treat liken just like any other regular German verb. You take the stem lik- and add standard German endings. For example, ich like, du likest, or wir liken. The past tense is where it gets fun. You say ich habe geliked. Notice how the German ge- prefix wraps around the English word. It sounds a bit like 'ge-liket'. Even though it looks English, your mouth should stay in German mode for the grammar. It is a linguistic hybrid that works surprisingly well.
When To Use It
Use this when you are talking about Instagram, TikTok, or Facebook. It is perfect for texting friends about your latest post. You can also use it in a professional marketing meeting. If you are discussing social media strategy, liken is totally acceptable. It is the standard term for this specific tech action. If you see a cute cat video, you likest it. If your friend posts a vacation photo, you likest it immediately.
When NOT To Use It
Never use liken for things in the physical world. If you enjoy a pizza, do not say ich like Pizza. Use ich mag Pizza instead. If you have a crush on someone, do not say ich like dich. That sounds like you only enjoy their digital profile. It can feel cold or robotic in real-life contexts. Also, avoid it in very formal academic writing. Your professor wants to hear bevorzugen or schätzen, not liken. Keep it digital to keep it natural.
Cultural Background
Germany has a love-hate relationship with 'Denglisch'. Some language purists cringe when they hear English loanwords. However, the tech world moves too fast for traditional German. The phrase Gefällt-mir-Angabe is the official German term, but it is a mouthful. Young Germans simply chose the easier path. liken became popular around 2010 as Facebook took over. It represents a generation that is globally connected and digitally native. It is a symbol of how the internet ignores borders.
Common Variations
You will often hear disliken for hitting the thumbs-down button. Another common phrase is einen Like dalassen, which means 'to leave a like'. If someone likes every single one of your photos, they are am Liken (in the process of liking). Some people also use herzen (to heart) specifically for Instagram. But liken remains the undisputed king of digital approval terms in Germany.
Usage Notes
Mainly used in informal and digital contexts. It is a 'Denglisch' verb that follows regular German conjugation. Avoid in formal writing unless discussing social media specifically.
Spelling
Always use 'gelikt' in writing tests to impress your teacher with your Duden knowledge.
Context
Never say 'Ich like dich' to a person in real life unless you want to sound like a robot.
Social Media
If you want to sound very native, use 'herzen' for Instagram instead of 'liken'.
Examples
6Hast du mein neues Bild schon geliked?
Have you liked my new picture yet?
A very common question among friends on social media.
Ich like eigentlich fast alles auf Twitter.
I actually like almost everything on Twitter.
Shows the general habit of using the platform.
Unsere Kunden liken vor allem die Videos.
Our customers mostly like the videos.
Professional use within a specific industry context.
Like mal bitte meinen Post, ich brauche Reichweite!
Please like my post, I need reach!
A cheeky request for digital support.
Er hat ein Foto von 2018 geliked – er stalkt mich!
He liked a photo from 2018 – he's stalking me!
Humorous take on 'deep-liking' someone's profile.
Es ist schön, dass du meine Beiträge immer likest.
It's nice that you always like my posts.
Expressing emotional gratitude for digital attention.
Test Yourself
Fülle die Lücke mit der richtigen Form von 'liken' im Präsens.
Du ______ fast jedes Foto von ihr!
The second person singular (du) ending for 'liken' is '-st'.
Welcher Satz ist richtig?
A: Ich like die Suppe. B: Ich habe den Post gelikt. C: Er likt zu mir.
B is correct because 'liken' is used for digital posts and the past participle is 'gelikt'. A is wrong (use 'mögen' for food), and C is wrong (no preposition 'zu').
Vervollständige den Dialog.
A: Hast du mein Video gesehen? B: Ja, ich habe es schon ______.
The past participle of 'liken' is 'gelikt'.
In welcher Situation benutzt man 'liken'?
1. Im Restaurant. 2. Auf Instagram. 3. In der Schule beim Test.
'Liken' is specifically for social media interactions.
🎉 Score: /4
Visual Learning Aids
Liken vs. Mögen
Practice Bank
4 exercisesDu ______ fast jedes Foto von ihr!
The second person singular (du) ending for 'liken' is '-st'.
A: Ich like die Suppe. B: Ich habe den Post gelikt. C: Er likt zu mir.
B is correct because 'liken' is used for digital posts and the past participle is 'gelikt'. A is wrong (use 'mögen' for food), and C is wrong (no preposition 'zu').
A: Hast du mein Video gesehen? B: Ja, ich habe es schon ______.
The past participle of 'liken' is 'gelikt'.
1. Im Restaurant. 2. Auf Instagram. 3. In der Schule beim Test.
'Liken' is specifically for social media interactions.
🎉 Score: /4
Frequently Asked Questions
10 questionsYes, it is in the Duden dictionary and is considered standard German for social media contexts.
No, that sounds very strange. Use 'Das Essen schmeckt mir' or 'Ich mag das Essen'.
You can say 'das Like entfernen' or 'entliken', though 'entliken' is quite informal.
The most common form is the Perfekt: 'hat gelikt'. The Präteritum is 'likte', but it's rarely used.
They are following English spelling. In German, 'gelikt' is the official correct spelling.
No, it is informal. In a formal setting, use 'Gefällt-mir-Angabe' or 'Zustimmung'.
Yes, it is used for all platforms with a like button.
It's a variation of 'liken' specifically for heart-shaped like buttons.
Many do if they use social media, but they might prefer 'gutfinden'.
It is {der|m} Like.
Related Phrases
teilen
similarTo share a post.
abonnieren
similarTo subscribe/follow.
kommentieren
similarTo comment.
entliken
contrastTo unlike.
gefallen
builds onTo please.
