German Phrase
Wie ist deine Nummer oder deine E‑Mail?
Meaning
This question asks someone to give you either their phone number or their e‑mail address, i.e., a way to contact them. It’s a direct, informal request for personal contact details.
When to use
Use this phrase in casual or semi‑formal settings when you need to stay in touch – for example, after meeting a new colleague, a fellow student, or a friend you just met at an event. It’s best suited for informal ‘du’ contexts; in formal situations you would switch to ‘Sie’ and say “Wie ist Ihre Nummer oder Ihre E‑Mail?”.
✦Grammar Breakdown
WieistdeineNummeroderdeineE‑Mail?
Wie (question word)
‘Wie’ asks for a description or specification, similar to ‘what’ or ‘how’ in English.
ist (sein – 3rd person singular)
The verb ‘sein’ (to be) is conjugated as ‘ist’ for he/she/it and also used for ‘you (informal)’ when asking a question.
deine (possessive adjective)
‘deine’ agrees with the feminine noun ‘Nummer’ and ‘E‑Mail’; the ending –e marks feminine singular.
Nummer / E‑Mail (feminine nouns)
Both nouns are feminine, so the possessive adjective takes the –e ending.
oder (coordinating conjunction)
‘oder’ connects two alternatives, equivalent to ‘or’ in English.
🗨In Conversation
Wie ist deine Nummer oder deine E‑Mail?
What’s your phone number or your e‑mail?
Meine Nummer ist 0176 1234567, meine E‑Mail ist max@beispiel.de.
My number is 0176 1234567, my e‑mail is max@beispiel.de.
✕Common Mistakes
Wie ist dein Nummer oder dein E‑Mail?
‘dein’ is the masculine/neuter form; with feminine nouns like ‘Nummer’ and ‘E‑Mail’ you need ‘deine’.
Wie deine Nummer oder deine E‑Mail?
In very informal speech some learners drop the verb, but the correct sentence needs ‘ist’.
Wie ist deine Nummer und deine E‑Mail?
Using ‘und’ changes the meaning to ‘both’, which is not intended here.
↔Alternatives
Wie kann ich dich erreichen?
How can I reach you?
Gib mir bitte deine Telefonnummer oder deine E‑Mail-Adresse.
Please give me your phone number or your e‑mail address.
Darf ich deine Kontaktdaten haben?
May I have your contact details?
Cultural Tip
In German‑speaking countries people often exchange both phone numbers and e‑mail addresses, but privacy is taken seriously. It’s polite to ask “Darf ich …?” (May I …?) if you’re not already familiar. Also, remember to switch to the formal ‘Sie’ form (Ihre) when speaking with strangers, elders, or in business contexts.