anrufen
to call (on the phone)
Anrufen means to call someone on the phone. It is a separable verb, so in the present tense the prefix 'an' moves to the end of the sentence. Germans use it for any phone call, whether to a person or an organization.
Heard in real German videos
Lines where anrufen was actually spoken, from German videos watched with DeutschChat.
- Möchtet ihr einen Freund anrufen?Would you like to call a friend?
Example sentences
- Ich rufe dich morgen an.I will call you tomorrow.
- Er hat seine Mutter angerufen.He called his mother.
- Kannst du mich später anrufen?Can you call me later?
Grammar
| Present (ich/du/er) | rufe an / rufst an / ruft an |
|---|---|
| Simple past | rief an |
| Perfect | hat angerufen |
| Separable | yes |
| Case | accusative (direct object) |
In the present tense, the prefix 'an' goes to the end: 'Ich rufe dich an.' In the perfect tense, the past participle is 'angerufen' and the auxiliary is 'haben'.
Common phrases
- jemanden anrufento call someone
- bei jemandem anrufento call someone (at their place)
The mistake English speakers make
English speakers often forget to separate the prefix: they say 'Ich anrufe dich' instead of 'Ich rufe dich an'. Remember: in main clauses, the prefix goes to the end.
Don’t confuse it with
- telefonieren — Telefonieren means 'to talk on the phone' and is intransitive; anrufen is transitive and focuses on initiating the call.
Questions learners ask
Is anrufen a separable verb?
Yes, anrufen is separable. In the present tense, the prefix 'an' moves to the end: 'Ich rufe dich an.'
What is the difference between anrufen and telefonieren?
Anrufen means to call someone (transitive, you call a person). Telefonieren means to talk on the phone (intransitive, you talk with someone).