German word

lieber

Pronunciation

IPA/ˈliːbɐ/

Meaning

  • adverbrather

Example

Ich trinke lieber Tee als Kaffee.

I would rather drink tea than coffee.

Illustration for lieber (rather)

More examples

Ich würde lieber jetzt gehen.

I would rather go now.

Core concept

A choice tilts toward one option, marking the action that feels more welcome.

Common phrases

  • lieber als

    rather than

  • würde lieber

    would rather

  • lieber zu Hause

    rather at home

Similar words

gern: Shows enjoyment or willingness to do something.
eher: Indicates that something is more likely or tends in one direction.
am liebsten: Expresses the strongest preference among available options.

Definition in German

Ausdrückt, dass man eine Handlung einer anderen vorzieht; häufig in Vergleichssätzen mit 'als' oder in Wendungen wie 'Ich würde lieber ...'.

Word origin

The adverb lieber developed from the Germanic adjective lieb, 'dear', through the older sense 'more gladly' and then came to express preference.

Usage tips

  • In Ich würde lieber ..., lieber follows würde while the preferred action remains in the infinitive at the end.

Other meanings

  • preferablyadverb

Opposites

Related words

Word lists with this word