Yes, Germans absolutely say "Ich liebe dich" and it means "I love you" in a deep, romantic sense. It is pronounced roughly as "ish leeb-uh dish" and is reserved for very serious and intimate relationships, not for casual liking. Germans tend to be more reserved than Americans about saying it early. You would not say "Ich liebe dich" to someone you just started dating or to a friend. For a new relationship, they often start with "Ich mag dich" which means "I like you" or "Ich hab dich lieb" which is softer, like "I love you" in a fond, affectionate, non-romantic or early-romantic way that parents say to children and close friends say to each other. "Ich liebe dich" is typically said only after months of dating and it carries a lot of weight, similar to proposing commitment. If you say it too early, a German might find it overwhelming or insincere. In everyday life you will hear it in movies, songs, and real couples, but it is not thrown around lightly. So yes they say it, but they mean it very seriously when they do.
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