die Nummer
number
A digit or a sequence of digits used for identification, for example a phone number, house number, or account number.
EXAMPLE
Könntest du mir bitte deine neue Nummer geben?
Could you please give me your new number?
die Nummer
number
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Meanings
die Nummer
size
An indication of size, especially for clothing or shoes.
EXAMPLE
Haben Sie diese Hose auch eine Nummer größer?
Do you have these pants one size larger?
die Nummer
act
An individual, self-contained item in a performance, for example in a circus, theater, or show.
EXAMPLE
Die Trapez-Nummer war der Höhepunkt der Zirkusvorstellung.
The trapeze act was the highlight of the circus performance.
die Nummer
character
Colloquial term for a person perceived as a distinctive character or type, often slightly disparaging or admiring.
EXAMPLE
Dein neuer Kollege ist ja eine ganz lustige Nummer.
Your new colleague is quite a funny character.
eine Nummer abziehen
to pull a stunt
Colloquial for carrying out a strange, questionable, or unexpected action.
EXAMPLE
Ich kann nicht glauben, dass er so eine Nummer abgezogen hat.
I can't believe he pulled a stunt like that.
die Nummer
issue
A single issue of a journal, newspaper, or magazine.
EXAMPLE
Hast du die aktuelle Nummer der „Zeit“ schon gelesen?
Have you already read the current issue of Die Zeit?
Usage tips
Word structure
The word 'Nummer' (number) is a very productive component of many compound nouns in German. You can recognize it in words like 'Hausnummer' (house number), 'Telefonnummer' (phone number), 'Kontonummer' (account number), or 'Zimmernummer' (room number).
EXAMPLE
Notieren Sie sich bitte die Auftragsnummer für zukünftige Anfragen.
Please write down the order number for future inquiries.
Fixed expression
A very common idiom is 'auf Nummer sicher gehen' (to play it safe). It means that you don't want to take any risks and want to take extra precautions just in case.
EXAMPLE
Ich habe die Daten doppelt gespeichert, nur um auf Nummer sicher zu gehen.
I saved the data twice, just to play it safe.
Sentence structure with preposition
When you want to state which phone number someone can be reached at, you use the preposition 'unter' (at). The typical phrasing is: 'unter der Nummer ... erreichbar sein' (to be reachable at the number ...).
EXAMPLE
Sie erreichen unseren Kundenservice unter der Nummer 0800 12345.
You can reach our customer service at the number 0800 12345.
Typical use
When shopping for clothes or shoes, the question 'Welche Nummer haben Sie?' (What size are you?) is common. To ask for a different size, you say 'eine Nummer größer' (one size larger) or 'eine Nummer kleiner' (one size smaller).
EXAMPLE
Dieser Pullover passt nicht, ich brauche ihn eine Nummer kleiner.
This sweater doesn't fit; I need it one size smaller.
Register: colloquial
Calling a person a 'Nummer' (character) is colloquial. Depending on the context, it can be slightly admiring ('eine tolle Nummer' — a great character), critical ('eine seltsame Nummer' — a strange character), or simply descriptive.
EXAMPLE
Pass auf bei dem Verkäufer, das ist eine ganz komische Nummer.
Watch out with that salesperson; he's a really weird character.
Fixed expression
The colloquial expression 'eine Nummer abziehen' (to pull a stunt) is a fixed unit. It means that someone carries out an unexpected, often negative or tricky action.
EXAMPLE
Er hat an der Kasse eine unglaubliche Nummer abgezogen, um nicht bezahlen zu müssen.
He pulled an unbelievable stunt at the checkout so he wouldn't have to pay.
Compare with
Nummer vs Typ
guy / type
Typ and Nummer can colloquially refer to a striking or unusual person. Typ describes more generally what kind of person someone is. Nummer usually expresses a stronger reaction to the person’s distinctive behavior and can sound admiring or slightly disparaging.
Nummer
Nach seinem verrückten Auftritt nennen alle den neuen Kollegen eine echte Nummer.
After his crazy performance, everyone calls the new colleague quite a character.
Typ
Alle halten den neuen Kollegen für einen ungewöhnlichen Typ.
Everyone thinks the new colleague is an unusual type.
In real life
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