German Phrase
Erzähl mir von einem Fehler.
Meaning
‘Tell me about a mistake.’ The speaker asks the listener to recount an error they have made, often to learn from it or to share an amusing story.
When to use
Use this informal phrase when you want a friend, classmate, or colleague to describe a slip‑up they experienced – for example in a language class, a cooking workshop, or a casual chat about past blunders.
✦Grammar Breakdown
ErzählmirvoneinemFehler
Erzähl (imperative)
‘Erzähl’ is the du‑imperative of the verb ‘erzählen’ (to tell, to narrate).
mir (dative pronoun)
‘mir’ is the dative form of ‘ich’; it receives the action of the verb in the imperative.
von (preposition)
‘von’ always governs the dative case and means ‘about, of, from’.
einem (indefinite article, dative masculine)
Because ‘von’ requires dative, the masculine noun ‘Fehler’ takes the article ‘einem’.
Fehler (masculine noun)
‘Fehler’ means ‘mistake, error’; it is a masculine noun (der Fehler).
🗨In Conversation
Erzähl mir von einem Fehler, den du beim Kochen gemacht hast.
Tell me about a mistake you made while cooking.
Ich habe das Salz mit Zucker verwechselt und das ganze Gericht versalzen.
I mixed up salt with sugar and ended up over‑salting the whole dish.
✕Common Mistakes
Erzählen mir von einem Fehler.
The verb must be in the imperative form ‘Erzähl’, not the infinitive ‘Erzählen’.
Erzähl mir von einen Fehler.
‘von’ requires the dative case, so the article must be ‘einem’, not accusative ‘einen’.
Erzähl von mir einem Fehler.
The dative pronoun comes directly after the verb; you cannot separate it with a preposition.
↔Alternatives
Berichte mir von einem Fehler.
Report a mistake to me.
Sag mir, was du falsch gemacht hast.
Tell me what you did wrong.
Erzählen Sie mir von einem Fehler.
Tell me about a mistake. (formal)
Cultural Tip
‘Erzähl mir …’ is informal and should be used with people you address with ‘du’. In a formal setting (e.g., with a teacher or a business partner) switch to the Sie‑form: ‘Erzählen Sie mir von einem Fehler.’ Also, Germans appreciate directness, but be mindful that asking about a mistake can feel sensitive; soften it with a friendly tone or a smile.