liebenden

Liebenden is a German noun phrase that means “the lovers” and is used to refer to people who are in a romantic relationship. It is formed from Liebe (love) and the present-participle suffix -ende, functioning as a plural noun. In standard grammar, the definite plural form is die Liebenden; the genitive plural is der Liebenden, and the dative plural is den Liebenden.

The term commonly designates a pair of lovers in everyday language, but it also appears in poetry and prose with lyrical or symbolic nuances. In literary and artistic contexts, Die Liebenden is often used to evoke romance, intimacy, or social dynamics surrounding a couple, and it can carry varying tonal shades—from tenderness to secrecy to idealization—depending on the era and author.

Culturally, the phrase is widespread enough to appear as a title or a recurring motif in German-language literature, film, and music. It functions both as a straightforward descriptor and as a symbolic shorthand for romantic love, sometimes framing the lovers as protagonists, subjects of social scrutiny, or emblematic figures within a broader narrative about relationships.

See also: Die Liebenden; Liebe; Liebes.