Short answer
“I miss you” in German is Ich vermisse dich
How to say I miss you in German?
Wondering how to say I miss you in German? The most common answer is 'Ich vermisse dich' for informal situations and 'Ich vermisse Sie' for formal ones, both built on the verb 'vermissen'. A more heartfelt alternative is 'Du fehlst mir', which literally means 'you are missing to me'. Use 'dich' with friends, family and your partner, and 'Sie' with people you address formally. When you meet someone again after time apart, say 'Ich habe dich vermisst' for 'I missed you'. With these phrases you can express I miss you in German naturally at any level of closeness.
Common pairings
Ich vermisse dich sehr — I miss you very muchIch habe dich vermisst — I missed youIch vermisse dich auch — I miss you tooDu fehlst mir sehr — you are very much missed
How to use it
- Decide between 'dich' and 'Sie' before you speak. Say 'Ich vermisse dich' to people you are close to and on a first-name basis; say 'Ich vermisse Sie' in formal settings, for example with a manager, professor or someone you address with 'Herr'/'Frau'. The capital S in 'Sie' marks the formal 'you' and distinguishes it from 'sie' (she/they).
- 'Ich vermisse dich' is the neutral, everyday choice. 'Du fehlst mir' is stronger and more poetic — it literally says that a part of your life feels empty without the person. You can intensify both with 'sehr': 'Ich vermisse dich sehr' or 'Du fehlst mir sehr'.
- For the past tense, use the Perfekt: 'Ich habe dich vermisst' (informal) or 'Ich habe Sie vermisst' (formal). This is a warm, affectionate thing to say the moment you meet again.
Examples
Ich vermisse dich.
I miss you.
The standard, everyday phrase. The verb 'vermissen' takes an accusative object, so you need 'dich', not 'du'.
Ich vermisse Sie.
I miss you (formal).
Use the capital-S 'Sie' with people you address formally, such as a boss or someone you call 'Herr' or 'Frau'.
Du fehlst mir.
I miss you.
Literally 'you are missing to me'. This version is more poetic and emotional, focusing on the emptiness you feel.
Ich habe dich so vermisst!
I missed you so much!
Past tense (Perfekt); you say this when you finally see the person again after a long time apart.
Common mistakes
| Wrong | Correct | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Ich vermisse |
Ich vermisse dich | 'du' is the subject form; after 'vermisse' you need the accusative object 'dich'. |
| Ich |
Ich vermisse dich | 'miss' is an English word; German uses the verb 'vermissen'. |
| Unnatural | Natural | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Ich vermisse |
Ich vermisse dich | Using the formal 'Sie' with a close friend sounds cold and distant; switch to 'dich' once you are on a first-name basis. |
FAQ
- How to say I miss you in German?The most common way is 'Ich vermisse dich' for people you know well and 'Ich vermisse Sie' in formal situations. If you want a more emotional sound, you can also say 'Du fehlst mir'.
- What is the difference between 'Ich vermisse dich' and 'Du fehlst mir'?'Ich vermisse dich' is the direct, everyday way to say you miss someone. 'Du fehlst mir' literally means 'you are missing to me' and focuses on the emptiness they leave behind, so it feels more poetic and heartfelt.
- How do I say 'I missed you' in German?Say 'Ich habe dich vermisst' (informal) or 'Ich habe Sie vermisst' (formal). This is a warm greeting for when you meet someone again after being apart.
- Is 'Ich vermisse Sie' polite?Yes, it is respectful and polite. The capital S in 'Sie' shows the formal 'you' — a lowercase 'sie' would mean 'she' or 'they'.