die
Telefonnummer
🔢 What exactly is a Telefonnummer?
Die Telefonnummer is the German word for phone number. It's a unique sequence of digits assigned to a specific telephone line (Festnetz - landline or Mobilfunk - mobile) allowing someone to dial that specific line and establish a communication link.
It is a feminine noun, which is why it uses the article die. Common abbreviations include Tel.-Nr. or simply Nr..
Example: Kannst du mir bitte deine Telefonnummer geben? (Can you please give me your phone number?)
Article rules for der, die, and das
Numbers, calculations → almost always feminine.
Caution: When verbs are turned into nouns, the result is 'das Addieren', 'das Subtrahieren', 'das Multiplizieren', 'das Dividieren'.
🧐 Grammar in Detail: die Telefonnummer
The word "Telefonnummer" is a feminine noun. Here is its declension:
Singular
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative (Who/What?) | die | Telefonnummer |
| Genitive (Whose?) | der | Telefonnummer |
| Dative (To/For whom?) | der | Telefonnummer |
| Accusative (Whom/What?) | die | Telefonnummer |
Plural
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die | Telefonnummern |
| Genitive | der | Telefonnummern |
| Dative | den | Telefonnummern |
| Accusative | die | Telefonnummern |
📝 Example Sentences
- Ich habe deine Telefonnummer in meinem Handy gespeichert. (I have saved your phone number in my mobile phone. - Accusative Singular)
- Der Polizist notierte sich die Telefonnummern der Zeugen. (The police officer noted down the phone numbers of the witnesses. - Accusative Plural)
- Die Richtigkeit der Telefonnummer ist entscheidend. (The correctness of the phone number is crucial. - Genitive Singular)
- Mit diesen Telefonnummern können wir nichts anfangen. (We can't do anything with these phone numbers. - Dative Plural)
📞 How to use "die Telefonnummer"?
The term "Telefonnummer" is frequently used in everyday conversation:
- Asking for a number: "Wie ist deine Telefonnummer?" (What's your phone number?) or "Könnte ich bitte Ihre Telefonnummer haben?" (Could I have your phone number, please? - formal)
- Giving a number: "Meine Telefonnummer lautet 0123 456789." (My phone number is 0123 456789.)
- Dialing a number: "Ich muss kurz diese Telefonnummer wählen." (I quickly need to dial this phone number.)
- Saving a number: "Speicher dir meine neue Telefonnummer ab." (Save my new phone number.)
- Context: Germans often differentiate between Festnetznummer (landline number) and Handynummer/Mobilnummer (mobile number), although both are types of Telefonnummern.
⚠️ Be careful not to confuse die Nummer (feminine, number) with das Numero (neuter, dated or technical term for 'issue/copy' of a magazine).
🧠 Mnemonics for Telefonnummer
Article Mnemonic: Remember that Nummer ends in '-er', similar to many feminine nouns in German (like Mutter, Schwester). Think: "She has the number" - the 'e' sounds might help link it to die.
Meaning Mnemonic: The word is a compound: Telefon (telephone) + Nummer (number) = the number you need for the telephone. It's quite logical!
🔄 Similar and Opposite Terms
Synonyms (Similar Meaning)
- die Rufnummer: Very common synonym, often interchangeable with Telefonnummer. (Lit. call number)
- die Anschlussnummer: Slightly more technical, referring to the specific line/connection. (Lit. connection number)
- die Durchwahl: Extension number within a larger organization. (Lit. through-dial)
- die Handynummer / Mobilnummer: Specifically for mobile phones. (Mobile phone number)
- Tel.-Nr. / Nr.: Common abbreviations.
⚠️ Similar, but different words
- die Hausnummer: House number.
- die Bestellnummer: Order number.
- die Seriennummer: Serial number.
😂 A Little Joke
Warum hat das Telefon Angst vor der Spinne?
Weil sie immer im Netz hängt und auf einen Anruf wartet! 🕷️🕸️📞
Why is the telephone afraid of the spider?
Because it's always hanging on the web (Netz = web/network) waiting for a call!
✍️ Poem about the Number
Zehn Ziffern, manchmal mehr,
die Telefonnummer, bitte sehr!
Ob nah, ob fern, ob alt, ob neu,
mit ihr bleibst du den Freunden treu.
Ein Anruf schnell, ein Wort geschwind,
durch die Nummer, die uns verbind'.
Ten digits, sometimes more,
the phone number, if you please!
Whether near, whether far, whether old, whether new,
with it, you stay true to friends.
A quick call, a swift word,
through the number that connects us.
❓ Riddle Time
Ich habe Ziffern, doch kann nicht rechnen.
Ich verbinde Menschen, ohne zu sprechen.
Man gibt mich weiter, manchmal geheim.
Was bin ich, sag es, sei nicht so fein!
I have digits, but cannot calculate.
I connect people, without speaking.
I am passed on, sometimes secretly.
What am I, say it, don't be so shy!
Solution: die Telefonnummer (the phone number)
🧩 Further Details
Word Composition
"Telefonnummer" is a compound noun (Kompositum):
Trivia
- Telefonnummern often consist of a Vorwahl (area code for a city/region, e.g., 030 for Berlin, or country code, e.g., +49 for Germany) and the actual Rufnummer (subscriber number).
- The structure and length of phone numbers vary significantly internationally.
📝 Summary: is it der, die or das Telefonnummer?
The noun "Telefonnummer" is feminine. The correct article is die Telefonnummer. The plural is die Telefonnummern.