German Phrase
Ruf bei jedem Brand 911 an.
Meaning
The sentence is a direct instruction telling someone to call the emergency number 911 whenever there is a fire. It uses the informal singular imperative, making it suitable for quick, urgent instructions among friends, coworkers, or in a training scenario.
When to use
Use this phrase when giving safety instructions in a German‑speaking environment that follows the U.S. emergency system, such as a multinational company’s fire‑drill briefing, a language‑learning role‑play, or a travel safety guide for German speakers visiting the United States.
✦Grammar Breakdown
RufbeijedemBrand911an.
Imperative (Ruf)
‘Ruf’ is the singular informal imperative of the verb ‘rufen’, used for giving a direct command to ‘you’ (du).
Separable verb (anrufen)
‘anrufen’ is a separable verb; in the imperative the prefix ‘an’ moves to the end of the clause.
Preposition ‘bei’ + Dative
‘bei’ governs the dative case, so ‘jedem’ is the dative form of ‘jeder’.
Noun gender & case
‘Brand’ is a masculine noun; in the dative it stays ‘Brand’ (no article change because the article is already in ‘jedem’).
Number as a noun
‘911’ is treated as a noun (the emergency number) and does not change its form.
🗨In Conversation
Ruf bei jedem Brand 911 an.
Call 911 for every fire.
Alles klar, ich melde mich sofort.
Got it, I’ll call right away.
✕Common Mistakes
Ruf bei jedem Brand an 911.
The prefix ‘an’ must be placed at the end of the clause, not before the number.
Rufe bei jedem Brand 911 an.
‘Rufe’ is the plural or formal imperative; for a single informal addressee you need ‘Ruf’.
Ruf bei jedem Brand 112 an.
If you are in a German‑speaking country, the correct emergency number is 112, not 911.
↔Alternatives
Ruf bei jedem Feuer die Notrufnummer 911 an.
Call the emergency number 911 for every fire.
Bei jedem Brand sofort 911 wählen.
Dial 911 immediately for any fire.
Ruf im Brandfall immer 911 an.
Always call 911 in case of fire.
Cultural Tip
In German‑speaking countries the official emergency number is 112, not 911. If you’re in Germany, Austria, or Switzerland you should say ‘Ruf bei jedem Brand 112 an.’ The phrase with 911 is useful for German speakers who travel to the United States or for contexts that specifically reference the U.S. system. Also, the informal imperative ‘Ruf’ should only be used with people you know well or in a training setting; in formal situations you would use ‘Rufen Sie … an.’