falsche Nummer
feminine
The German phrase for "wrong number" is falsche Nummer.
falsche Nummer is used both to describe the error itself and to inform a caller that they have reached the wrong person.
Meaning: A call with a mistake in the number dialled (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of the adjective falsche (wrong/false) and the feminine noun Nummer (number).
Is it said differently in some regions?
In the Bavarian dialect, you might hear Entschuldigen's, Sie ham si vawählt. to mean "Excuse me, you've dialed the wrong number.", while in the Swabian dialect, the phrase is Entschuldigung, Sie hend sisch verwählt.
How does it change in a sentence?
Because Nummer is a feminine noun, the adjective falsch takes the -e ending in the nominative and accusative singular cases when used without a definite article.
When do people say it?
In a telephone context, one might politely say Ein Versehen (a mistake/oversight) to indicate that the call was made in error.
Did you know?
- While falsche Nummer refers to the error, Germans use the verb verwählen to describe the specific act of dialing the wrong digits, a concept English has no single word for.
- The adjective falsch in falsche Nummer can mean 'wrong' or 'fake'. In different contexts, the same phrase could refer to a number that is simply a mistake or a number that is intentionally fraudulent.
- Beyond telephone errors, the adjective falsch is used to describe someone who is 'wrong' in a moral sense, such as someone who is lying or insincere.
Examples in context
- Ich muss die falsche Nummer haben.I must have the wrong number.This sentence is useful for expressing the thought 'I must have the wrong number.'Tatoeba #3109982 by Manfredo, translation #259936 by CK
- Du hast die falsche Nummer gewählt.You dialed the wrong number.This sentence is useful for saying 'You dialed the wrong number.'Tatoeba #1430530 by Esperantostern, translation #4001343 by AlanF_US
- Sie haben die falsche Nummer gewählt.You have the wrong number.This sentence is useful for saying 'You have the wrong number.' using the formal 'Sie'.Tatoeba #4001364 by hjoest, translation #20854 by CK
- Entschuldigen Sie vielmals, aber Sie haben leider die falsche Nummer gewählt.I'm sincerely sorry, but unfortunately, you have dialed the wrong number.
- Ich fürchte, Sie haben sich geirrt. Das ist nicht die Nummer, die Sie gesucht haben.I'm afraid you've made a mistake. This is not the number you are looking for.
- 20 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Lukas receives an unexpected phone call from Laura.
- LukasHallo, wer ist da?Hello, who is calling?
- LauraIch suche Herrn Schmidt, aber das scheint die falsche Nummer zu sein.I am looking for Mr. Schmidt, but this seems to be the wrong number.
- LukasEntschuldigung, hier wohnt kein Schmidt.Sorry, no one named Schmidt lives here.
- LauraOh, das tut mir leid.Oh, I am sorry.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “wrong number” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
