German · Real conversations
How to say “Let's turn back.” in German
Suggest returning in the direction you came from.
Lass uns umkehren.
Let's turn back.
Make it a clear proposal that the other person can respond to.
Use it in three situations
A changed walking plan
Lass uns umkehren.
Let's turn back.
At a closed path
Es wird dunkel. Lass uns umkehren.
It's getting dark. Let's turn back.
After deciding to return
Lass uns umkehren, bevor es regnet.
Let's turn back before it rains.
What to watch for
Turning back is different from merely turning left or right.
Read the whole expression before replacing a detail. The natural wording may use a different order or construction from the English sentence.
Your turn
Imagine outdoor plans. Say this in German: It's getting dark. Let's turn back.
Reveal a sample reply
Es wird dunkel. Lass uns umkehren.
It's getting dark. Let's turn back.
Build a useful exchange
Check a route and agree on a sensible outdoor plan.
This expression in other languages
A note on speaking German
Use Sie for formal address and du with people you address informally. Könnten Sie …? is a useful polite request. Keep noun capitals and the verb position shown in each complete sentence.
The examples preserve German accents and ß. Read a full sentence before replacing a detail: a subordinate clause can move the verb to the end, and case can change an article or pronoun.
