непра́вильный но́мер
neprávilʹnyj nómermasculine
The English phrase "wrong number" can be translated into Russian as непра́вильный но́мер (neprávilʹnyj nómer). Wiktionary also lists не тот но́мер (ne tot nómer) and оши́бочный но́мер (ošíbočnyj nómer).
Meaning: A call with a mistake in the number dialled (noun)
Ways to say it
| Russian | Romanization (Wiktionary) | Note |
|---|---|---|
| непра́вильный но́мер | neprávilʹnyj nómer | masculine |
| не тот но́мер | ne tot nómer | |
| оши́бочный но́мер | ošíbočnyj nómer | masculine |
The term refers to a telephone call where the digits dialed were incorrect. You might often encounter the verb phrase оши́бся но́мером to express the action of having dialed the wrong number.
Which one should you use?
While непра́вильный но́мер implies a mistake in the digits dialed, the colloquial phrase не тот но́мер is a common colloquial way to say "not the [right] number."
How does it change in a sentence?
To say "I have dialled the wrong number" as a complete thought, Russians often use the verb phrase оши́бся но́мером (literally: "erred by number").
How do you pronounce it?
neprávilʹnyj nómer
Did you know?
- The word но́мер is a loanword from French 'numéro'. Because of this history, it is used in Russian for telephone numbers, hotel rooms and circus acts, mirroring the versatility of the French term.
- The word тот in the colloquial phrase не тот но́мер shares an ancient ancestor with the English word 'the'. Both trace back to Proto-Indo-European roots that established basic demonstratives.
- The adjective непра́вильный in непра́вильный но́мер can make the number sound 'incorrect' or 'untrue' rather than just 'mistyped'.
Examples in context
- Извините, но Вы ошиблись номером.Excuse me, but you have dialed the wrong number.
- Простите, Вы дозвонились не по тому номеру.I'm sorry, but you have reached the wrong number.
- Извините, но у меня не тот номер, который Вам нужен.Excuse me, but I don't have the number you need.
- Ты звонишь не туда, братан.You're calling the wrong place, buddy.
- Это непра́вильный но́мер.Eto nepravil'nyy nomer.This is a wrong number.
- Вы набрали непра́вильный но́мер.Vy nabali nepravil'nyy nomer.You dialed a wrong number.
- Извините, это непра́вильный но́мер.Izvinite, eto nepravil'nyy nomer.Sorry, it is a wrong number.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “wrong number” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries не, тот, CC BY-SA 4.0.
