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German Phrase

Wir ruhen uns am Nachmittag aus.

/viːɐ̯ ˈʁuːən ʊns am ˈnaːχˌmɪt ˈaʊs/
Meaning"We rest in the afternoon."
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Meaning

The sentence means “We rest in the afternoon.” It describes a short break or relaxation period after lunch, not a deep sleep. The reflexive verb "ausruhen" emphasizes that the rest is for ourselves.

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When to use

Use this phrase when talking about daily routines, planning a schedule, or explaining how you and others take a short break in the afternoon – for example at work, school, or during a family day out.

✦Grammar Breakdown

WirruhenunsamNachmittagaus.

1

Separable verb (ausruhen)

In main clauses, the prefix "aus" moves to the end of the sentence, so "ausruhen" becomes "ruhen … aus".

2

Reflexive pronoun

"uns" is the reflexive pronoun for the 1st person plural and must stay next to the verb stem.

3

Preposition "an" + dative

"am" is a contraction of "an dem" and requires the dative case; "Nachmittag" stays unchanged.

4

Word order with time expressions

Time expressions like "am Nachmittag" usually appear after the reflexive pronoun but before the final verb particle.

🗨In Conversation

A

Was machst du nach dem Mittagessen?

What are you doing after lunch?

Wir ruhen uns am Nachmittag aus.

We rest in the afternoon.

B

✕Common Mistakes

  • Wir ruhen am Nachmittag aus.

    Missing the reflexive pronoun "uns"; the verb "ausruhen" is reflexive.

  • Wir ruhe uns am Nachmittag aus.

    Verb conjugation error – for "wir" the verb should be "ruhen", not "ruhe".

  • Wir ruhen uns am Nachmittags aus.

    "Nachmittag" stays in the dative after "am"; adding "-s" makes it incorrect.

↔Alternatives

  • Wir machen am Nachmittag eine Pause.

    We take a break in the afternoon.

  • Wir entspannen uns am Nachmittag.

    We relax in the afternoon.

  • Wir legen am Nachmittag eine Pause ein.

    We schedule a pause for the afternoon.

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Cultural Tip

In German‑speaking countries a short afternoon break (often called "Kaffeepause" or "Nachmittagspause") is common in schools and many workplaces. "Ausruhen" is used for a light rest – a coffee, a walk, or simply sitting down – rather than for sleeping. Keep the tone informal but polite; in a formal setting you might say "Wir legen eine Pause am Nachmittag ein."