anrufen

This verb is a bit of a rebel. It is a separable verb. This means the an part likes to travel. In a basic sentence, the an jumps to the very end. You say Ich rufe dich an. See how the an sits at the finish line? It stays there like a loyal dog. If you use a helper verb like kann, it stays together. Ich kann dich anrufen. It is like a puzzle piece that moves.

Use it whenever you need to talk to someone. Use it for making a doctor's appointment. Use it to check in on your parents. It works perfectly for business meetings too. If you are texting a friend, you can say Ruf mich an!. It is universal across all levels of German society. It is the most common way to describe this action.

Do not use anrufen if you are shouting. If you see a friend across the street, use rufen. anrufen requires a phone or a communication device. Also, do not confuse it with telefonieren. telefonieren is the act of being on the phone for a while. anrufen is the act of making the call happen. If you just want to yell for help, leave the an at home.

Germans take phone etiquette quite seriously. When you anrufen a business, expect a formal greeting. They will often say their last name first. It is a sign of transparency and professionalism. Calling someone after 8:00 PM is often considered rude. Unless they are your best friend, keep it to business hours. Privacy is highly valued in German culture.

You will often hear zurückrufen. This means to call someone back. It is very common in office settings. Another one is jemanden anwählen. This is more technical, like 'dialing' a specific extension. If you miss a call, you might say Ich habe einen Anruf verpasst. The noun form is der Anruf. It is a simple, sturdy word family.