German Phrase
Ruf mich unter 555-5678 an.
Meaning
The sentence is a casual request meaning ‘Call me at 555‑5678.’ It uses the informal du‑imperative, so it is appropriate with friends, family, or colleagues you know well.
When to use
Use this phrase when you want to give someone your phone number in a spoken conversation, for example after meeting someone at a party, during a business call, or when arranging a quick follow‑up.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Rufmichunter555-5678an
Ruf (imperative)
‘Ruf’ is the du‑imperative of the verb ‘rufen’ (to call). It is used for informal commands.
mich (accusative)
‘mich’ is the accusative reflexive pronoun referring to the speaker – ‘me’.
unter + number
In German phone‑number contexts ‘unter’ means ‘at’ or ‘on’; it introduces the number you should dial.
an (separable prefix)
‘anrufen’ (to call) is a separable verb; in the imperative the prefix ‘an’ moves to the end of the clause.
🗨In Conversation
Ruf mich unter 555-5678 an.
Call me at 555‑5678.
Klar, ich melde mich gleich.
Sure, I’ll call you right away.
✕Common Mistakes
Ruf mich an unter 555-5678.
The separable prefix ‘an’ must go to the end of the clause in the imperative.
Ruf mich bei 555-5678 an.
‘bei’ is used for locations, not for phone numbers; ‘unter’ is the correct preposition.
Du Ruf mich unter 555-5678 an.
Adding ‘du’ before the imperative is redundant and sounds unnatural.
↔Alternatives
Du kannst mich unter 555‑5678 erreichen.
You can reach me at 555‑5678.
Telefonier mich bitte unter 555‑5678.
Please phone me at 555‑5678.
Schreib mir, wenn du mich unter 555‑5678 anrufen willst.
Write to me if you want to call me at 555‑5678.
Cultural Tip
In German‑speaking countries it is common to say ‘unter’ before a phone number, especially in spoken language. When speaking to strangers or in a formal setting, you would switch to the Sie‑form: ‘Rufen Sie mich bitte unter … an.’ Also, Germans usually include the area code (e.g., 030 for Berlin) when giving a number, so you might hear ‘unter 030 555‑5678.’