German Phrase
Schick eine E‑Mail oder ruf an.
Meaning
This sentence is an informal suggestion: ‘Send an e‑mail or give me a call.’ It presents two possible ways to get in touch, using the informal ‘du’ form.
When to use
Use it when you want to give a quick, casual instruction or offer options for communication, for example in a workplace chat, a text to a friend, or a brief email signature.
✦Grammar Breakdown
SchickeineE‑Mailoderrufan
Imperative (schicken)
‘Schick’ is the du‑imperative of the verb ‘schicken’ (to send).
Accusative article
‘eine’ is the feminine accusative indefinite article, matching ‘E‑Mail’.
Noun (E‑Mail)
‘E‑Mail’ is a feminine noun borrowed from English; it takes the article ‘die’ in the singular.
Conjunction ‘oder’
‘oder’ means ‘or’ and connects two alternative actions.
Separable verb (anrufen)
‘ruf … an’ is the du‑imperative of the separable verb ‘anrufen’ (to call). The prefix ‘an’ moves to the end in the imperative.
🗨In Conversation
Wie soll ich das Problem melden?
How should I report the problem?
Schick eine E‑Mail oder ruf an.
Send an e‑mail or give me a call.
✕Common Mistakes
Schicke eine E‑Mail oder ruf an.
‘Schicke’ is the 1st‑person singular present, not the imperative for ‘du’. Use ‘Schick’.
Schick eine E‑Mail oder ruf an.
In the imperative the prefix ‘an’ must be placed after the verb: ‘ruf … an’. Do not write ‘ruf an’ as a single word.
Schick eine Mail oder ruf an.
While ‘Mail’ is understood, the standard German noun is ‘E‑Mail’ (feminine). Use the correct article ‘eine’.
Schicken Sie eine E‑Mail oder ruf an.
Avoid mixing formal and informal forms; if you start with the formal ‘Sie’, keep it: ‘Schicken Sie eine E‑Mail oder rufen Sie an.’
↔Alternatives
Schick mir eine E‑Mail oder ruf mich an.
Send me an e‑mail or call me.
Sende eine E‑Mail oder telefoniere.
Send an e‑mail or telephone.
Mail mir das oder melde dich telefonisch.
Mail me that or get in touch by phone.
Cultural Tip
In German business culture, e‑mail is often the default written channel, but a quick phone call is appreciated for urgent matters. Using the informal ‘du’ form (as in this sentence) signals familiarity; in a formal setting you would say ‘Schicken Sie eine E‑Mail oder rufen Sie an.’