houden van
to love
Pronunciation
/ˈɦɔu.dən vɑn/
Cultural Note
'Ik hou van jou' is the most important phrase in Dutch romance. Note: 'houden van' implies deep, committed love (used for people, pets, and strong preferences), while 'verliefd zijn op' refers to being in love (the butterflies stage). The shortened 'ik hou van je' is slightly more casual than 'ik hou van jou'.
📝 Example Sentences
Ik hou van jou.
I love you.
Ze houdt van bloemen en chocolade.
She loves flowers and chocolate.
Hij hield al jaren van haar.
He had loved her for years.
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