How to Compose a Letter in German

Include the address (‘’Anschrift’’). In formal letters, it's essential to provide an address. Otherwise, addresses can be written directly on the envelope or package. German address components follow a different order than English: title, name, street and number, postal code (‘’Postleitzahl’’), and location. For instance:

• Ms. Marianne Müller, Zeughofstrasse 23, 1121 Berlin, Germany (Use 'Mr.' for men.)

Indicate the date (‘’Datum’’). Normally, this is positioned in the top right corner of the document. Dates on German letters can be written in various formats, differing from English conventions. You can also include the place (‘’Ort’’) of writing along with the date. For instance, the following formats for “from Berlin on April 13, 2017” are acceptable. Pay attention to period placement (avoid dashes, slashes, or commas):

• 2017-04-13
• 13.04.2017
• 13. April 2017
• Berlin, 13.04.2017
• Berlin, den 13. April 2017

Select a formal greeting (‘’Anrede’’). German letters should begin with a brief, polite greeting addressed to the recipient. For formal communication, there are several acceptable greetings. When corresponding with professionals (e.g., doctors or officials), include their titles. Be mindful of spelling variations based on gender:

• Sehr geehrte Damen und Herren (Dear Sir or Madam)
• Sehr geehrte Damen (Dear Madam)
• Sehr geehrte Herren (Gentlemen)
• Sehr geehrte Frau Müller (Dear Ms. Müller)
• Sehr geehrter Herr Mülller (Dear Mr. Mülller)
• Sehr geehrte Frau Bundeskanzlerin (Dear Ms. Chancellor)
• Sehr geehrter Herr Professor Müller (Dear Professor Müller)
• Sehr geehrte Frau Dr. Mann, sehr geehrter Herr Mann (Dear Dr. Mann, dear Mr. Mann)

Observe proper etiquette for the letter's content. In formal German correspondence, you can be straightforward about your intentions. Nonetheless, it's advisable to structure your letter meticulously and maintain politeness.

• Commence the body of your letter with a brief introduction (introduce yourself, greet the recipient, briefly state the purpose of your letter). Unlike English, refrain from capitalizing the first word of the letter's body.
• Subsequently, elaborate on the purpose of your letter. Clearly articulate your request, explanation, or inquiry (e.g., registering a complaint or inquiring about a business opportunity).
• Conclude the body of your letter with a succinct closing that summarizes its purpose, specifies any desired follow-up actions, and expresses gratitude for the recipient's time.

Choose a formal sign-off (‘’Briefschluss’’). The closure of your letter should convey courtesy and respect. Similar to the greeting, it can take several forms. Pay close attention to spelling, as closings that sound similar in English are spelled differently in German. Possible closings (and their English equivalents) include:

• Mit freundlichen Grüssen (Yours sincerely)
• Mit freundlichem Gruss (Sincerely)
• Freundliche Grüsse (Kind regards)
• Mit den besten Grüssen (With best regards)
• Beste Grüsse aus Berlin (Best regards from Berlin)
• Herzliche Grüsse (Warm greetings)

Choose an informal greeting. In informal German letters, much like in English, you enjoy more flexibility in starting your letter. Date and address are not obligatory, though you can include them if desired. Opt for an informal greeting suitable for your recipient. Mind the spelling. For instance, use “Liebe” (“Dear”) for a woman, but “Lieber” (“Dear”) for a man. Consider these options:

• Guten Tag, Frau Müller (Good day, Ms. Müller)
• Liebe Frau Müller (Dear Ms. Müller)
• Lieber Heinrich (Dear Heinrich)
• Hallo, Andreas (Hi Andreas)
• Mein lieber Schatz (My dear honey)
• Hallo mein Liebling (Hello my darling)
• Hallo meine Süße (Hello sweetie - female)
• Hallo mein Süßer (Hello sweetie - male)

Compose the body of your letter. With an informal letter in German, you have ample freedom in content and structure. Group your thoughts together and use line breaks to separate paragraphs, facilitating readability.

• Remember, there's no need to capitalize the first word of your letter's body.

End your letter in an informal manner. Even in letters to friends or family, including a clear closing is courteous. Tailor your closing to the recipient, ranging from casual to intimate. Consider these common closings:

• Herzlichst (Cordially)
• Viele Grüße (Lots of regards)
• Liebe Grüße (Lots of love)
• Alles Liebe (Lots of love)
• Dein (Yours - male)
• Deine (Yours - female)
• In Liebe (With love - for romantic relationships)

Arrange the addresses. For physical mail, furnish the recipient's name, business, or organization (and their title, if applicable), street address, postal code, and location. Include the destination country, especially for international mail. Present the information in the correct order as per this model:

• Herr Dr. Tomasz Mann, Zeughofstrasse 23, 1121 Berlin, Germany

Place the addresses on the envelope or package. Ensure your (the sender’s) address is positioned at the top left corner, following the same format as the recipient's address. Situate the recipient’s address on the lower right.

Send your letter through the mail. If you're mailing a letter within or from Germany, you can reach out to Deutsche Post, visit their website, or visit one of their branches for postage purchase and mailing instructions. For letters to Germany or elsewhere, consult your local post office for delivery options. Additionally, private shipping services like FedEx, DHL, and UPS may offer alternatives.

Adhere to conventional letter-writing norms when composing an email. Generally, the guidelines for crafting a letter in German also apply to email or other electronic communications. Particularly, observe the distinctions between formal and informal writing. Despite the instantaneous nature of email, it's important to convey courtesy and respect, especially in communication with unfamiliar recipients.