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How to Say ‘But I'm afraid I have to get back to my friends now.’ in German

Aber ich muss jetzt leider zu meinen Freundinnen zurück.

ah-ber ikh moos yetst LY-der tsoo MY-nen FROYN-di-nen tsoo-RUK

[ah-ber ikh moos yetst LY-der tsoo MY-nen FROYN-di-nen tsoo-RUK]

💬 Usage Tip: After muss, will or kann, Germans often drop the verb for going entirely: zurück "back" is enough. Same with ich muss nach Hause "I have to go home".

Phrase Breakdown

Aber ich muss jetzt leider

ah-ber ikh moos yetst LY-der

But unfortunately I have to now

'leider' (unfortunately) softens the goodbye politely. Pronounce it LAI-der.

Example

Aber ich muss jetzt leider los.

But unfortunately I have to go now.

Words in this phrase

Aber

[ah-ber]

But

Used to introduce a contrast or exception.

Example

Ich mag Cocktails, aber nicht jeder ist gut gemacht.

I like cocktails, but not every one is well made.

ich

[ikh]

The pronoun 'ich' in nominative form.

Example

Ich bin da.

I am here.

muss

[moos]

must

Shows necessity or obligation.

Example

Ich muss Bescheid geben., weil das Restaurant planen muss.

I have to let them know because the restaurant has to plan.

jetzt

[yetst]

now

Refers to the present time or current situation.

Example

Jetzt wohne ich in dieser Straße.

Now I live on this street.

leider

[LY-der]

unfortunately

A polite way to introduce bad news or say something does not work.

Example

Leider kann ich den Termin nicht wahrnehmen.

Unfortunately, I can’t make the appointment.

zu meinen Freundinnen zurück.

tsoo MY-nen FROYN-di-nen tsoo-RUK

go back to my (female) friends.

'zurück' sits at the end and works like a verb particle meaning 'go back'.

Example

Sie geht zu meinen Freundinnen zurück.

She's going back to my friends.

Words in this phrase

[tsoo]

Used to indicate direction or purpose.

Example

Ich habe es zu tun.

I have to do it.

meinen

[MY-nen]

Accusative masculine form of mein, used before a masculine noun.

Example

In Meinen Arzttermin steht Meinen vor dem Nomen.

In Meinen Arzttermin, Meinen stands before the noun.

Freundinnen

[FROYN-di-nen]

(female) friends

Plural of 'Freundin'.

Example

Ich treffe meine Freundinnen.

I'm meeting my friends.

zurück

[tsoo-RUK]

back

To return to a previous place or condition.

Example

Er kommt morgen zurück.

He is coming back tomorrow.

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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