VocabuoDictionaryGet the app
noun

der Notruf, -e

emergency call

Ein Anruf, den man in einer gefährlichen oder dringenden Situation tätigt, um sofort Hilfe zu bekommen, zum Beispiel von der Polizei, Feuerwehr oder dem Rettungsdienst.

Definition & meaning

A Notruf is an emergency call made to official services (such as police, fire department, or ambulance) to report an urgent situation that requires immediate assistance.

In a broader sense, it can also refer to a system or a device (such as an emergency button or alarm pendant) used to initiate such a call, often used by elderly individuals living alone or in medical facilities.

Grammar & Word origin

The word is a masculine compound noun consisting of two parts:

  1. Not: meaning "emergency," "distress," or "need."
  2. Ruf: meaning "call" or "shout," derived from the verb rufen.

Grammatically, it is a compound noun: der Notruf (nominative singular), des Notrufs (genitive singular), die Notrufe (nominative plural).

Synonyms & antonyms

Synonyms:

  • Alarmruf (alarm call)
  • Hilferuf (call for help)
  • Notfallmeldung (emergency notification)

Antonyms:

  • Fehlalarm (false alarm, as it is the opposite of a genuine, necessary emergency call)

Make “Notruf” part of your vocabulary.

Build your German vocabulary with flashcards, audio and spaced repetition.

Get Vocabuo on the App StoreGet Vocabuo for Android

Examples

Ein Notruf kann Leben retten.noun

An emergency call can save lives.

Keep exploring German

Learn words from the content you love.

Add words from websites, books and videos, then remember them with spaced repetition (SRS).

Download on theApp StoreGET IT ONGoogle Play