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How to Say ‘I'm going to get myself something to drink.’ in German

Ich hole mir mal was zu trinken.

ikh HOH-leh meer mahl vas tsoo TRING-ken

[ikh HOH-leh meer mahl vas tsoo TRING-ken]

💬 Usage Tip: mal and was soften and shorten the sentence: was is casual for etwas "something", and mal makes it sound relaxed rather than abrupt.

🇩🇪 In Germany: A friendly, low-key way to step away from a group conversation for a moment. It's also an easy chance to offer: Willst du auch was? "Do you want something too?"

Phrase Breakdown

Ich hole mir mal

ikh HOH-leh meer mahl

I'll just get myself

'mal' softens the statement and makes it casual.

Example

Ich hole mir mal einen Tee.

I'll just get myself a tea.

Words in this phrase

Ich

[ikh]

The pronoun 'ich' in nominative form.

Example

Ich bin da.

I am here.

hole

[HOH-leh]

(I) get / fetch

'ich' form of 'holen', to go and get something.

Example

Ich hole meine Jacke.

I'll get my jacket.

mir

[meer]

to me

Dative pronoun used to show that something matters or happens to the speaker.

Example

Mir ist eine offene Kommunikation besonders wichtig.

Open communication is especially important to me.

mal

[mahl]

(softener) just

A small particle that makes a request or question sound casual and friendly.

Example

Komm mal her!

Come here for a sec!

was zu trinken.

vas tsoo TRING-ken

something to drink.

'was' is casual for 'etwas'.

Example

Möchtest du was zu trinken?

Would you like something to drink?

Words in this phrase

was

[vas]

something

Colloquial short form of 'etwas'.

Example

Ich muss dir was sagen.

I have to tell you something.

[tsoo]

Used to indicate direction or purpose.

Example

Ich habe es zu tun.

I have to do it.

trinken

[TRING-ken]

to drink

Basic verb for consuming a drink; 'etwas zu trinken' means 'something to drink'.

Example

Möchtest du etwas trinken?

Would you like something to drink?

Guides for German learners

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