German Phrase
Ich mach kurz Pause.
Meaning
Literally, “I make a short break.” In everyday German it means “I’m taking a short break.” The phrase is colloquial and used when you step away briefly from a task or conversation.
When to use
Use this sentence in informal settings—among friends, coworkers, or classmates—when you intend to leave the current activity for a few minutes. It’s too casual for formal written communication.
✦Grammar Breakdown
IchmachkurzPause
Verb conjugation (machen)
In spoken German the infinitive ending *‑e* is often dropped in the 1st person singular, so *mache* becomes *mach*.
Adverb placement
Adverbs like *kurz* normally stand directly before the noun they modify, here describing the length of the pause.
Noun without article
In informal speech *Pause* can appear without an article, but the full form is *eine kurze Pause*.
🗨In Conversation
Ich mach kurz Pause.
I’m taking a short break.
Alles klar, ich warte hier.
All right, I’ll wait here.
✕Common Mistakes
Ich mach Pause.
Missing the adverb *kurz* changes the nuance; it sounds like a longer, unspecified break.
Ich mach kurzer Pause.
The adjective must agree with the noun’s case; after *Pause* you need the accusative *kurze* if you use an article.
Ich mache kurz Pausen.
Plural *Pausen* changes the meaning to “multiple short breaks,” which is not the intended single break.
↔Alternatives
Ich mache eine kurze Pause.
I’m taking a short break.
Ich lege kurz eine Pause ein.
I’ll insert a short pause.
Ich nehme mir kurz eine Auszeit.
I’ll take a short time out.
Cultural Tip
Germans often schedule short “Pausen” during work or study to stay focused. In many offices, a 5‑minute coffee break is common and expected. Keep the tone informal; in a formal meeting you’d say *Ich nehme mir kurz eine Pause* or simply *Entschuldigung, ich muss kurz weg*.