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How to Say ‘What do I need to do now?’ in German

Was muss ich jetzt machen?

vahs moos ikh yetst MAKH-uhn

[vahs moos ikh yetst MAKH-uhn]

🇩🇪 In Germany: German doctors' appointments are often brief, so asking this directly is normal and expected. It gets you a clear plan before you're ushered out.

Phrase Breakdown

Was muss ich

vahs moos ikh

What must I

A question with the modal verb 'müssen'. 'Was' rhymes with 'pass'.

Example

Was muss ich mitbringen?

What do I have to bring?

Words in this phrase

Was

[vahs]

what

A question word used to ask for information.

Example

Was passiert als Nächstes?

What happens next?

muss

[moos]

must

Indicating a necessity or obligation.

Example

Ich muss zur Arbeit gehen.

I must go to work.

ich

[ikh]

The pronoun 'ich' in nominative form.

Example

Ich bin da.

I am here.

jetzt machen?

yetst MAKH-uhn

do now?

'Jetzt' means now. The 'j' sounds like an English 'y' and 'tzt' is one quick sound: YETST.

Example

Ich gehe jetzt.

I'm going now.

Words in this phrase

jetzt

[yetst]

now

Refers to the present moment.

Example

Jetzt warten wir noch kurz.

Now we wait a little longer.

machen

[MAKH-uhn]

do / make

From the verb "machen"; usually means to do or make.

Example

Das Hotel erklärt, was wir machen können.

The hotel explains what we can do.

Guides for German learners

Duolingo vs Pimsleur: Tapping on a Screen or Talking Out Loud?Duolingo vs Pimsleur: five minutes of tapping versus thirty minutes of speaking. What each is good at, what each costs, and which to pick for your goal.

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