ILD

What Does ILD Mean in a Text?

Expressing Love in a Text

There are over 100 novel ways to express love in a text message. Some of them were invented by the iKids (i.e., Millennials, Generation Z, and Generation A), making them just a few decades old, but many of them have been around for centuries. Here's the one that matters to you: ILD means "Ich Liebe Dich," which is a German phrase meaning "I Love You" in English.

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Whilst saying "I Love You" in English is usually indicative of very strong romantic affection, the use of the abbreviation ILD between English speakers should not always be taken literally. In English, the abbreviation ILD is more likely to be used to show affection, rather than actual love. Between German speakers, the abbreviation ILD usually expresses deep, romantic affection. A more platonic affection would more normally be expressed by the abbreviation HDL, which translates in English as "Love You" and which is more appropriately used between friends.

Image for ILD

When I write ILD, I mean this:

"Ich Liebe Dich"

Summary of Key Points

"Ich Liebe Dich (I Love You)" is, by far, the most common meaning for ILD when it is used in a text. (Bear in mind that it could have another meaning if used in a different context.)

ILD
Definition:	Ich Liebe Dich (I Love You)
Type:	Abbreviation
Guessability:	5: Extremely difficult to guess
Typical Users:	Adults and Teenagers

Examples of ILD in Sentences

Here are examples of ILD in conversations:

Teri: You are the light of my life. My reason for living.
Dave: ILD.

Sarah: Missing you already. ILD.
Tom: Thanks. I love you too.

An Academic Look at ILD

ILD is an initialism abbreviation. Technically, this means it is pronounced using its individual letters (i.e., Eye Ell Dee). However, it is not often uttered using its letters, as it is used for efficiency in writing and not efficiency in speech. Between native German speakers, the abbreviation ILD is likewise only used in writing. The abbreviation ILD is normally used as a standalone declarative sentence (i.e., a statement) with the meaning "Ich Liebe Dich." ILD is not often used as another part of speech within a wider sentence.