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German Phrase

Ich geh so gegen halb neun los.

/ɪç ɡeː ˈzoː ˈɡeːɡn̩ ˈhalp ˈnɔʏn loːs/
Meaning"I’m leaving around half past eight."
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Meaning

The speaker is saying that they will leave or start moving at about half past eight. The phrase is informal and often used when making plans with friends or family.

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When to use

Use this sentence in casual conversation when you want to tell someone roughly when you’ll be on your way – e.g., meeting up for dinner, catching a train, or heading out for a night out.

✦Grammar Breakdown

Ichgehsogegenhalbneunlos

1

gehen + los (separable verb)

‘losgehen’ is a separable verb meaning ‘to set off, to start moving’. In the present tense the prefix ‘los’ moves to the end of the clause.

2

gegen + time

‘gegen’ is used to indicate an approximate time, similar to ‘around’ in English.

3

halb + hour

‘halb’ followed by the next hour means ‘half past the previous hour’ (e.g., ‘halb neun’ = 8:30).

4

so as a filler

‘so’ can be used colloquially to soften a statement, roughly ‘just’ or ‘kind of’.

🗨In Conversation

A

Wann gehst du los?

When are you leaving?

Ich geh so gegen halb neun los.

I’m leaving around half past eight.

B

✕Common Mistakes

  • Ich geh so um halb neun los.

    ‘Um halb neun’ is not idiomatic; use ‘gegen halb neun’ for an approximate time.

  • Ich geh so gegen neun halb los.

    The order must be ‘halb’ + hour, never the other way around.

  • Ich geh los gegen halb neun.

    In German the separable prefix ‘los’ must stay at the end of the clause.

↔Alternatives

  • Ich mache mich gegen halb neun auf den Weg.

    I’ll set off around half past eight.

  • Ich starte etwa um 8:30 Uhr.

    I’ll start at about 8:30.

  • Ich gehe ungefähr um halb neun los.

    I’m going off roughly at half past eight.

de

Cultural Tip

In German, ‘gegen’ is the go‑to preposition for approximate times, while ‘um’ is used for exact times. Also, ‘halb’ always refers to the half hour before the hour you say – ‘halb neun’ is 8:30, not 9:30. Using the separable verb ‘losgehen’ makes the sentence sound relaxed and conversational, perfect for everyday talk.