heranrufen

Heranrufen is a separable German verb meaning to call someone over or to summon them to come closer, usually by speaking to them from a distance. It is distinct from anrufen, which means to call someone by phone.

Origin and meaning

The prefix heran- adds a sense of movement toward the speaker or toward a specific location. Combined with anrufen, it indicates requesting someone to approach rather than contacting them by telephone. The verb is commonly used in everyday language when wanting someone to come nearer for a discussion, to help, or to be near enough for a task.

Usage and grammar

Heranrufen behaves like other separable-prefix verbs in German. In the present tense the prefix is separated: ich rufe ihn heran, du rufst ihn heran, er ruft ihn heran. In the imperative you can say: Ruf ihn heran! Ruft ihn heran! In subordinate clauses the verb forms normally follow the same rules as non-separable verbs in terms of tense, for example: ich glaube, dass ich ihn heranrufe. For the perfect tense the past participle is typically herangerufen: ich habe ihn herangerufen. The exact form can vary with tense and voice, but the core idea remains to request someone to come nearer.

Examples

- Ruf ihn doch heran, damit wir miteinander sprechen können.

- Soll ich ihn heranrufen, oder kommst du selbst heran?

- Ich habe ihn gestern herangerufen, aber er war nicht erreichbar.

Related terms

A related verb is herbeirufen, which emphasizes summoning someone to come to a place, often for assistance or an authority figure. The term should not be confused with anrufen, which means to call someone on the phone.