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German Phrase

Ich will Geld zur Seite legen.

/ɪç vɪl ˈɡɛlt tsʊɐ ˈzaɪ̯tə ˈleːɡən/
Meaning"I want to set aside some money."
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Meaning

The sentence means ‘I want to set aside some money.’ It conveys a personal intention to save or reserve money for a future purpose, such as an emergency fund, a vacation, or a big purchase.

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When to use

Use this phrase when you talk about personal finance plans, budgeting, or when you explain to a friend or colleague that you are deliberately saving money. It is common in informal conversation as well as in more formal contexts like a financial advice session.

✦Grammar Breakdown

IchwillGeldzurSeitelegen

1

Ich (personal pronoun)

First‑person singular nominative pronoun, used as the subject of the sentence.

2

will (modal verb wollen)

Present tense of the modal verb ‘wollen’; expresses a personal intention or desire. It is followed by an infinitive without ‘zu’.

3

Geld (noun, neuter)

A neuter noun meaning ‘money’; in the accusative case here because it is the direct object of ‘legen’.

4

zur Seite (prepositional phrase)

Literally ‘to the side’; the fixed expression ‘zur Seite legen’ means ‘to set aside, to put aside for later use’.

5

legen (verb)

Infinitive of ‘legen’; with ‘zur Seite’ it forms a separable verb phrase meaning ‘to set aside’. The prefix ‘zur Seite’ is placed after the verb in the infinitive form.

🗨In Conversation

A

Ich will Geld zur Seite legen, damit ich im nächsten Jahr nach Berlin reisen kann.

I want to set aside money so I can travel to Berlin next year.

Das ist eine gute Idee! Wie viel willst du monatlich sparen?

That's a good idea! How much do you want to save each month?

B

✕Common Mistakes

  • Ich wird Geld zur Seite legen.

    Do not confuse ‘will’ (modal verb) with the future auxiliary ‘wird’. ‘Will’ expresses desire, not future tense.

  • Ich will Geld zu legen zur Seite.

    The phrase is inseparable in the infinitive; do not insert ‘zu’ before the verb (e.g., *‘zu legen’).

  • Ich will Geld 200 Euro zur Seite legen.

    When talking about a specific amount, use the accusative with the amount before the noun (e.g., ‘200 Euro’).

↔Alternatives

  • Ich möchte Geld sparen.

    I would like to save money.

  • Ich will Geld zurücklegen.

    I want to put money aside.

  • Ich plane, Geld zu sparen.

    I plan to save money.

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Cultural Tip

In German‑speaking countries, the concept of ‘Sparen’ (saving) is strongly linked to financial security. Phrases like ‘Geld zur Seite legen’ are often used when discussing emergency funds, retirement planning, or saving for a specific goal. Germans tend to be pragmatic about budgeting, so mentioning a concrete amount or timeframe (e.g., ‘Ich lege jeden Monat 200 Euro zur Seite’) makes the statement sound more natural and credible.