German for Long-Distance Friendships: Scheduling Video Chats and Saying You Miss Hanging Out
Learn to suggest a video call, say you miss hanging out, and schedule a time in German. Includes informal phrases, separable verbs, and regional notes.
By PookieFriends & plans · Yapr Learn
Keeping a friendship alive across distance takes effort, and German has natural, friendly phrases for exactly this. In this lesson you will learn how to suggest a video chat, say that you miss spending time together, and agree on a time. You will also practice the verb anrufen (to call), the separable verb auflegen (to hang up), and time expressions like um acht. The focus is on informal du-forms, since you are talking to a friend. Where relevant, I note differences between Germany, Austria, and Switzerland.
By the end, you can…
- suggest a video call with a friend in informal German.
- say that I miss hanging out with someone.
- schedule a call by naming a day and time.
- use separable verbs like anrufen and auflegen correctly.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
Lass uns bald videochatten.
Let's video chat soon.
lahs oons bahlt VEE-dee-oh-cha-ten
Informal du-form. The verb videochatten is a modern loanword; in Austria and Switzerland you may also hear videochatten or simply telefonieren.
Ich vermisse es, mit dir abzuhängen.
I miss hanging out with you.
ikh fair-MIS-se es mit deer AP-tsoo-heng-en
abzuhängen is the infinitive of abhängen (to hang out) with zu. Very colloquial; in Austria, herumhängen is also common.
Wann hast du Zeit für einen Anruf?
When do you have time for a call?
van hast doo tsyt foor AY-nen AN-roof
Neutral and polite. Use Anruf for a phone call; Videoanruf for a video call.
Passt es dir am Samstag um acht?
Does Saturday at eight work for you?
passt es deer am ZAM-stahk oom akht
am Samstag = on Saturday; um acht = at eight. In Switzerland, you might hear am Samschtig.
Ich rufe dich später an.
I'll call you later.
ikh ROO-fe dikh SHPAA-ter an
anrufen is separable: an goes to the end. This is a common way to confirm a plan.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
To suggest doing something together, use Lass uns + infinitive: Lass uns videochatten. (Let's video chat.) To ask if a time works, use Passt es dir am ... um ...? For example, Passt es dir am Freitag um sieben? (Does Friday at seven work for you?) To say you miss something, use Ich vermisse + accusative: Ich vermisse dich. (I miss you.) or Ich vermisse es, mit dir abzuhängen. (I miss hanging out with you.) Note that the separable verb anrufen splits: Ich rufe dich an. (I call you.) The prefix an goes to the end.
When to use it
Use these phrases with friends you address as du. With acquaintances or older people, switch to the Sie-form: Passt es Ihnen am Samstag um acht? (Does Saturday at eight work for you?) For a video call, say Ich rufe dich per Video an or Lass uns videochatten. In Austria and Switzerland, am Samstag may be am Samstag or am Samschtig (Swiss German), and instead of abhängen you may hear herumhängen. When scheduling, give a clear day and time: am Montag um 19 Uhr. Germans often use the 24-hour clock in writing but say um sieben Uhr abends in speech.
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
Hey, ich vermisse es, mit dir abzuhängen. Lass uns bald videochatten!
Hey, I miss hanging out with you. Let's video chat soon!hay, ikh fair-MIS-se es mit deer AP-tsoo-heng-en. lahs oons bahlt VEE-dee-oh-cha-tenJa, total! Wann hast du Zeit? Passt es dir am Samstag um acht?
Yes, totally! When do you have time? Does Saturday at eight work for you?yah, toh-TAHL! van hast doo tsyt? passt es deer am ZAM-stahk oom akhtSamstag um acht ist gut. Ich rufe dich dann per Video an.
Saturday at eight is good. I'll call you by video then.ZAM-stahk oom akht ist goot. ikh ROO-fe dikh dan pair VEE-dee-oh anPerfekt. Bis Samstag!
Perfect. See you Saturday!pair-FEKT. bis ZAM-stahkA little context goes a long way
In German-speaking countries, punctuality is valued, so if you agree on um acht, call close to that time. Among friends, a short message like Ich rufe dich in fünf Minuten an is appreciated if you are delayed. The du/Sie distinction matters: use du with friends, Sie with acquaintances. In Austria, you may hear Servus as a greeting; in Switzerland, Grüezi. Videochat is common in all three countries, but in Switzerland you might also hear Videocall.
One thing to watch for
Saying Ich vermisse dich zu abhängen.
Try this instead: Use either Ich vermisse dich. (I miss you.) or Ich vermisse es, mit dir abzuhängen. (I miss hanging out with you.) The verb vermissen takes a direct object, not an infinitive with zu. For example: Ich vermisse unsere Gespräche. (I miss our conversations.)
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1How do you say 'Let's video chat soon' in informal German?
Show a sample answer
Lass uns bald videochatten.
Lass uns + infinitive is the standard way to suggest an activity. Videochatten is a common loanword. You could also say Lass uns bald einen Videoanruf machen.
2Translate: 'I miss hanging out with you.'
Show a sample answer
Ich vermisse es, mit dir abzuhängen.
This uses vermissen + es + infinitive with zu. In Austria, you might say herumhängen instead of abhängen. A simpler alternative is Ich vermisse dich.
3Ask a friend if Friday at seven works for them.
Show a sample answer
Passt es dir am Freitag um sieben?
Passt es dir ...? is the informal way to ask if a time suits someone. Use Ihnen for formal: Passt es Ihnen am Freitag um sieben?
Use Lass uns videochatten to suggest a call, Ich vermisse es, mit dir abzuhängen to say you miss hanging out, and Passt es dir am ... um ...? to schedule. Remember anrufen splits: Ich rufe dich an.
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