German: How to Say 'I Should Get Going' and 'Let's Catch Up Soon'
Learn German phrases to exit a conversation politely, give a reason, and suggest meeting again soon, with pronunciation and regional notes.
By PookieFriends & plans · Yapr Learn
In German, ending a conversation politely often means signaling that you need to leave, not just saying goodbye. This lesson teaches you how to say 'I should get going' and 'Let's catch up soon,' with reasons and softeners. You will learn phrases like 'Ich muss los' and 'Wir sollten uns mal wieder treffen,' and understand when to use them. We will also cover regional differences and common mistakes.
By the end, you can…
- say I need to leave in German using 'Ich muss los' or 'Ich sollte los.'
- suggest meeting again soon with 'Wir sollten uns mal wieder treffen.'
- give a simple reason for leaving, such as an appointment or work.
- distinguish between leaving phrases and simple goodbyes.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
Ich muss los.
I have to get going.
ikh moos lohs
Very common, informal to neutral. Use with friends, family, or colleagues you know well. Implies you need to leave now.
Ich sollte langsam los.
I should get going soon.
ikh ZOL-tuh LAHNG-zahm lohs
Softer than 'Ich muss los.' 'Langsam' here means 'gradually' or 'soon,' not 'slowly.' Good for polite exits.
Wir sollten uns mal wieder treffen.
We should meet up again sometime.
veer ZOL-tuhn oons mahl VEE-der TREF-uhn
Friendly suggestion to catch up. 'Mal wieder' means 'again sometime.' Use with acquaintances or friends.
Lass uns bald mal wieder quatschen.
Let's catch up again soon.
lahs oons bahlt mahl VEE-der KVAH-chuhn
Informal, friendly. 'Quatschen' means to chat. Common among younger speakers and friends.
Ich habe noch einen Termin.
I have another appointment.
ikh HAH-buh nokh EYE-nen ter-MEEN
A clear reason for leaving. Use in professional or neutral contexts. 'Termin' can be a meeting or appointment.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
To exit a conversation, use 'Ich muss los' or 'Ich sollte los' followed by a reason. For example: 'Ich muss los, ich habe noch einen Termin.' To suggest meeting again, use 'Wir sollten uns mal wieder treffen' or 'Lass uns bald mal wieder quatschen.' The word 'mal' softens the suggestion and makes it sound casual. 'Wieder' means 'again,' so 'mal wieder' implies you have met before or want to continue the connection. You can also add 'bald' (soon) for urgency: 'Lass uns bald mal wieder quatschen.'
When to use it
Use these phrases when you want to end a conversation politely but leave the door open for future contact. They are not simple goodbyes like 'Tschüss' or 'Auf Wiedersehen.' Instead, they signal that you are exiting the interaction for a reason and often include a suggestion to reconnect. For example, at a party: 'Ich muss los, ich habe noch einen Termin. Wir sollten uns mal wieder treffen.' In a work context, 'Ich sollte langsam los' is more appropriate than 'Ich muss los' because it sounds less abrupt. With close friends, 'Lass uns bald mal wieder quatschen' works well.
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
Ich muss los, ich habe noch einen Termin.
I have to get going, I have another appointment.ikh moos lohs, ikh HAH-buh nokh EYE-nen ter-MEENAlles klar. Wir sollten uns mal wieder treffen.
All right. We should meet up again sometime.AH-luhs klahr. veer ZOL-tuhn oons mahl VEE-der TREF-uhnJa, gerne. Lass uns bald mal wieder quatschen.
Yes, gladly. Let's catch up again soon.yah, GEHR-nuh. lahs oons bahlt mahl VEE-der KVAH-chuhnBis dann!
See you then!bis dahnA little context goes a long way
In German-speaking countries, punctuality and planning are often valued, so giving a reason for leaving is generally seen as polite and respectful. 'Ich muss los' is direct but not rude among friends; in formal settings, 'Ich sollte langsam los' or 'Ich muss leider los' (Unfortunately, I have to go) is softer. Regional differences: 'Ich muss los' is common throughout Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, though in Switzerland you may also hear 'Ich muss gehen.' 'Quatschen' is informal and widespread, especially in northern and central Germany; in Bavaria and Austria, 'reden' or 'plaudern' may be used instead. 'Tschüss' is common in northern and central Germany, while 'Servus' is used in Bavaria and Austria for both hello and goodbye.
One thing to watch for
Using 'Ich muss gehen' as the default for 'I have to get going.'
Try this instead: 'Ich muss gehen' is grammatically correct, but as a way of announcing your departure it sounds more literal and can come across as abrupt. In everyday German, 'Ich muss los' is the standard phrase for leaving. For example, say 'Ich muss los, sonst komme ich zu spät' (I have to get going, otherwise I'll be late). 'Ich muss gehen' is used when you literally have to walk or go somewhere on foot, or in more formal or written contexts.
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1How would you say 'I should get going soon' in German?
Show a sample answer
Ich sollte langsam los.
This uses 'sollte' (should) and 'langsam' (soon/gradually) with 'los' to mean 'get going.' 'Ich muss bald los' is also possible but less soft.
2What is a friendly way to suggest meeting again soon?
Show a sample answer
Lass uns bald mal wieder quatschen.
This informal phrase means 'Let's catch up again soon.' 'Wir sollten uns mal wieder treffen' is also correct but slightly more neutral.
3Give a reason for leaving in German.
Show a sample answer
Ich habe noch einen Termin.
This means 'I have another appointment.' You could also say 'Ich muss noch arbeiten' (I still have to work) or 'Ich treffe mich mit einem Freund' (I'm meeting a friend).
Use 'Ich muss los' or 'Ich sollte langsam los' to exit politely, add a reason, and suggest reconnecting with 'Wir sollten uns mal wieder treffen' or 'Lass uns bald mal wieder quatschen.'
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