A1 Expression Very Informal

Geh weg!

Go away!

Phrase in 30 Seconds

A direct, often blunt imperative used to tell someone to leave your immediate presence or stop bothering you.

  • Means: 'Go away!' or 'Leave!' in a direct manner.
  • Used in: Arguments, setting personal boundaries, or expressing playful disbelief.
  • Don't confuse: With 'Geh weiter', which means 'Keep walking' or 'Continue'.
😠 + 🚶‍♂️ = 🛑 'Geh weg!'

Explanation at your level:

This is a very simple command. 'Geh' comes from 'gehen' (to go). 'Weg' means 'away'. You use it when you are angry or want to be alone. It is not polite. Use it with friends or children, but not with your teacher.
At this level, you should recognize 'Geh weg!' as an imperative of the separable verb 'weggehen'. The prefix 'weg' moves to the end. It is a useful phrase for setting boundaries. Remember that the plural form is 'Geht weg!' and the formal form is 'Gehen Sie weg!'.
In intermediate German, you'll notice 'Geh weg!' is used not just for physical distance, but also to express disbelief. It's a high-frequency expression in casual conversations. You should also learn synonyms like 'Hau ab!' and understand that 'Geh weg!' is less vulgar than 'Verpiss dich!'. Context and tone of voice are key to its meaning.
Upper-intermediate learners should appreciate the pragmatic force of 'Geh weg!'. It functions as a speech act of dismissal. While grammatically simple, its social weight is significant. It reflects the German preference for directness over the 'polite distance' often found in English-speaking cultures. Mastery involves knowing exactly when the social cost of using it is appropriate.
From a linguistic perspective, 'Geh weg!' illustrates the efficiency of the Germanic imperative. The prosody—usually a falling intonation with stress on 'weg'—is crucial for conveying the intended level of annoyance. C1 learners should analyze how this phrase interacts with modal particles like 'doch' (e.g., 'Geh doch weg!') to add nuance or emphasis to the dismissal.
At the mastery level, one examines 'Geh weg!' through the lens of cognitive linguistics and sociolinguistics. It represents a spatial metaphor for social rejection. The phrase's evolution from a literal motion command to a multifaceted tool for emotional expression—including its use in 'Berliner Schnauze' or as a marker of intimacy in playful banter—demonstrates the complex layering of meaning in seemingly simple German imperatives.

Meaning

An imperative to leave the speaker's presence.

🌍

Cultural Background

Directness is valued. 'Geh weg!' is seen as a clear communication of a boundary rather than just an insult. The 'Berliner Schnauze' uses blunt commands frequently. It's often less aggressive than it sounds to outsiders. Austrians tend to be slightly more indirect than Northern Germans. 'Geh weg!' might be replaced by 'Schleich di!' (Slang). Swiss German culture often prioritizes extreme politeness in public. 'Geh weg!' is very rare in public spaces.

⚠️

Watch your tone

A soft 'Geh weg' can be a joke, but a loud one is a serious fight starter.

🎯

Use 'doch' for emphasis

Adding 'doch' (Geh doch weg!) makes it sound more annoyed and insistent.

Meaning

An imperative to leave the speaker's presence.

⚠️

Watch your tone

A soft 'Geh weg' can be a joke, but a loud one is a serious fight starter.

🎯

Use 'doch' for emphasis

Adding 'doch' (Geh doch weg!) makes it sound more annoyed and insistent.

💬

The 'Sie' version

If you use 'Gehen Sie weg!' with a stranger, it signals a very serious boundary violation.

Test Yourself

Complete the command for a group of people.

Ihr nervt mich! ______ weg!

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Geht

The plural imperative for 'ihr' is 'geht'.

Which phrase is the most polite way to ask for space?

You are in a library and someone is talking loudly next to you.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Könnten Sie bitte leise sein?

In a public formal setting, a polite request is better than a blunt command.

Match the phrase to the situation.

Situation: Your best friend tells you they just met a Hollywood star.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Geh weg! Echt?

In this context, 'Geh weg' expresses disbelief among friends.

Complete the dialogue with the correct form of the verb.

A: Warum stehst du hier? B: Ich warte auf dich. A: Ich will dich nicht sehen. ____ (weggehen)!

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Geh weg

The imperative singular of 'weggehen' is 'Geh weg'.

🎉 Score: /4

Visual Learning Aids

Frequently Asked Questions

10 questions

Yes, it is generally considered blunt and can be rude depending on the context and tone.

Yes, it's a very common command for pets to tell them to move away.

'Hau ab' is more aggressive and slangy, similar to 'Get lost'.

You say 'Geht weg!' using the 'ihr' imperative form.

Yes, 'Lassen Sie mich bitte in Ruhe' (Please leave me in peace) is much more polite.

Because 'weggehen' is a separable verb, and in the imperative, the prefix always goes to the end.

Yes, in casual conversation, it can express shock or disbelief.

Parents use it, but it's better to use 'Geh bitte zur Seite' (Please step aside) for better manners.

It's a nautical slang version of 'Geh weg', meaning 'Pull the rope' (and sail away).

No, it is strictly a spoken, informal expression.

Related Phrases

🔄

Hau ab!

synonym

Beat it! / Get lost!

🔗

Lass mich in Ruhe

similar

Leave me alone.

🔄

Verschwinde!

synonym

Vanish! / Disappear!

🔗

Verpiss dich!

slang

Piss off!

🔗

Geh weiter

contrast

Keep going / Move along.

🔗

Räum das Feld

specialized form

Clear the field.

Where to Use It

👦

Annoying Sibling

Bruder: Kann ich dein Spielzeug haben?

Ich: Nein! Geh weg!

informal
🤬

Heated Argument

Person A: Du hast gelogen!

Person B: Lass mich in Ruhe! Geh einfach weg!

informal
😲

Shocking News

Freund: Ich habe im Lotto gewonnen!

Ich: Geh weg! Echt jetzt?

informal
🍺

Unwanted Attention at a Bar

Fremder: Hey, wie heißt du?

Ich: Geh weg, ich habe kein Interesse.

informal
💻

Busy at Work (with a friend)

Kollege (Freund): Willst du Kaffee?

Ich: Später! Geh weg, ich muss das fertig machen.

informal
🐕

Scaring off an Animal

Ich: Geh weg, böser Hund!

neutral

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Think of 'Geh' as 'Go' and 'Weg' as 'Way'. You are telling someone to 'Go the Way' (away from you).

Visual Association

Imagine a large red 'STOP' sign that suddenly sprouts legs and walks away from you into the distance.

Rhyme

Geh weg, du Schreck!

Story

A small {das|n} Kind is eating {das|n} Eis. A giant {der|m} Hund comes close. The child points and says 'Geh weg!'. The dog listens and walks to {der|m} Park.

Word Web

gehenwegweggehender Wegabhauenverschwindendie Ruhelassen

Challenge

Next time you see a fly or an annoying insect, whisper 'Geh weg!' to practice the pronunciation and the feeling of the command.

In Other Languages

Spanish high

¡Vete!

Spanish uses a reflexive verb, German uses a separable verb.

French high

Va-t'en !

French requires the 't' for phonetics and the 'en' for direction.

Japanese moderate

どけ！ (Doke!)

Japanese has many levels of 'go away' depending on politeness, whereas German is mostly binary (Du/Sie).

Arabic high

امشي! (Imshi!)

The literal meaning is just 'walk', but the imperative tone makes it 'go away'.

Chinese partial

滚！ (Gǔn!)

The literal 'roll' is much more insulting than the German 'go'.

Korean high

가! (Ga!)

Korean relies heavily on honorifics; 'Ga' is strictly for people younger or close to you.

Portuguese moderate

Vá embora!

The etymology 'em boa hora' is unique to Portuguese.

English high

Go away!

English 'away' is a separate word, while German 'weg' is a verb prefix.

Easily Confused

Geh weg! vs Geh fort

Both mean 'go away', but 'fort' is more regional (Southern) or old-fashioned.

Stick to 'weg' for modern, everyday German.

Geh weg! vs Weggehen

Learners use the infinitive instead of the imperative.

Always conjugate for the person you are talking to.

FAQ (10)

Yes, it is generally considered blunt and can be rude depending on the context and tone.

Yes, it's a very common command for pets to tell them to move away.

'Hau ab' is more aggressive and slangy, similar to 'Get lost'.

You say 'Geht weg!' using the 'ihr' imperative form.

Yes, 'Lassen Sie mich bitte in Ruhe' (Please leave me in peace) is much more polite.

Because 'weggehen' is a separable verb, and in the imperative, the prefix always goes to the end.

Yes, in casual conversation, it can express shock or disbelief.

Parents use it, but it's better to use 'Geh bitte zur Seite' (Please step aside) for better manners.

It's a nautical slang version of 'Geh weg', meaning 'Pull the rope' (and sail away).

No, it is strictly a spoken, informal expression.

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