Mögen vs. Möchten vs. Gern in German

German has three separate ways to express liking something, and mixing them up is one of the most common beginner mistakes. In this lesson, we cover mögen (to like), möchten (would like), and gern (to like doing), when to use each one, and how they combine with nouns versus verbs.

Mögen: To Like

Conjugation: ich mag, du magst, er/sie/es mag, wir mögen, ihr mögt, sie/Sie mögen. Mögen is usually paired with a noun to say you like something in general: Ich mag Schokolade. (I like chocolate.)

Möchten: Would Like

Conjugation: ich möchte, du möchtest, er/sie/es möchte, wir möchten, ihr möchtet, sie/Sie möchten. Möchten is the polite way to say you'd like something, whether a noun or another verb: Ich möchte einen Kaffee. (I'd like a coffee.) Ich möchte schlafen. (I'd like to sleep.)

Gern: To Like Doing Something

Unlike mögen and möchten, gern is an adverb, not a verb — it pairs with a different verb to say you like doing that activity: Ich spiele gern Fußball. (I like playing soccer.) See our guide to the 10 most common German verbs to start building sentences with gern.

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the difference between mögen and möchten?

Mögen expresses a general liking (Ich mag Kaffee), while möchten is the politer way to say you'd like something specific right now (Ich möchte einen Kaffee).

Is “möchten” a modal verb?

Not technically — it's the Konjunktiv II form of mögen, but it functions like its own polite verb in everyday German.

How do you use “gern” in a sentence?

Gern is an adverb placed after the verb it modifies, e.g. Ich spiele gern Fußball (I like playing soccer).

Can “gern” be used with a noun like “mögen” can?

No — gern always pairs with a verb to describe an activity you enjoy, not a noun on its own.

How do you politely order something in German?

With möchten, e.g. Ich möchte einen Kaffee, bitte.

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