SpeeekDownload on the App Store
Back to At The Hotel

German Phrase

Uns gehen die Handtücher aus.

/ʊns ˈɡeːən diː ˈhantˌtʏːçɐ ˈaʊs/
Meaning"We are running out of towels."
💡

Meaning

The sentence means “We are running out of towels.” It states that the supply of towels is becoming insufficient for the speakers. The construction emphasizes the shortage rather than who is responsible for it.

🎯

When to use

Use this phrase when you notice that there are no more clean towels left – in a hotel bathroom, at a gym, in a hostel, or even at home – and you want to inform someone or ask for more.

✦Grammar Breakdown

UnsgehendieHandtücheraus.

1

Dative pronoun with change-of-state verbs

The dative pronoun "uns" is used because the verb "ausgehen" describes a change that affects us, not an action we perform.

2

Separable verb "ausgehen"

In the present tense the prefix "aus" separates and moves to the end of the clause.

3

Verb‑second (V2) word order

German main clauses place the finite verb in second position; the subject can follow the verb, as in "gehen die Handtücher".

4

Plural noun with definite article

"die Handtücher" is a plural noun; the article "die" stays the same in nominative and accusative.

🗨In Conversation

A

Uns gehen die Handtücher aus.

We are running out of towels.

Ich bringe gleich neue Handtücher.

I’ll bring fresh towels right away.

B

✕Common Mistakes

  • Wir gehen die Handtücher aus.

    Use the dative pronoun "uns" because the verb describes a change that affects us, not an action we perform.

  • Uns geht die Handtücher aus.

    The verb must agree with the plural subject "Handtücher"; use "gehen".

  • Uns gehen die Handtücher weg.

    "ausgehen" and "weggehen" are not interchangeable here; the former expresses a depletion of stock.

↔Alternatives

  • Wir haben keine Handtücher mehr.

    We have no towels left.

  • Uns fehlt es an Handtüchern.

    We lack towels.

  • Die Handtücher gehen uns aus.

    The towels are running out for us.

de

Cultural Tip

In German‑speaking countries it is polite to phrase a shortage with the dative pronoun ("uns"), which subtly shifts the focus from blaming anyone to simply stating the situation. Hotel staff are accustomed to such phrasing and will usually respond promptly with fresh towels.