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German Phrase

Ich muss los.

/ɪç mʊs loːs/
Meaning"I have to go."
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Meaning

Literally “I must off”, the idiomatic meaning is “I have to go” or “I need to get going”. It conveys a polite but informal way to announce that you are leaving.

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When to use

Use this phrase in casual conversation with friends, classmates, or colleagues when you need to excuse yourself and head out. It is too informal for formal business meetings or written correspondence.

✦Grammar Breakdown

Ichmusslos

1

Personal pronoun

"Ich" is the first‑person singular pronoun meaning “I”.

2

Modal verb müssen

"muss" is the present‑tense form of the modal verb "müssen", expressing necessity or obligation.

3

Adverb "los"

"los" is an adverbial particle meaning “off, away, to go”, often used colloquially to indicate leaving.

🗨In Conversation

A

Ich muss los.

I have to go.

Alles klar, bis später!

All right, see you later!

B

✕Common Mistakes

  • Ich muss losen.

    "Losen" means ‘to loosen’, not the adverb ‘off’.

  • Ich muss los gehen.

    Combining "los" with "gehen" is redundant; choose either "los" or "gehen".

  • Ich müssen los.

    The verb must be conjugated: "muss", not the infinitive "müssen".

↔Alternatives

  • Ich muss gehen.

    I have to go.

  • Ich muss mich verabschieden.

    I have to say goodbye.

  • Ich muss jetzt los.

    I have to go now.

  • Ich muss weiter.

    I have to continue.

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Cultural Tip

“Los” is a colloquial particle that appears mainly in spoken German. In a formal setting you would prefer "Ich muss gehen" or "Ich muss mich verabschieden". Also, Germans often pair the phrase with a brief reason (e.g., "Ich muss los, ich habe einen Termin" – “I have to go, I have an appointment”).