Learn to write the short texts you need every week in Germany: a message to a friend, an email to an office, and a polite cancellation, each with the right greeting and ending.
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| German | Meaning |
|---|---|
| die Nachricht, -en | message |
| die E-Mail, -s | |
| der Betreff, -e | subject (of an email) |
| schreiben | to write |
| absagen | to cancel |
| sich entschuldigen | to apologise |
| Entschuldigung! | Sorry! |
| leider | unfortunately |
| der Grund, Gründe | reason |
| Lieber … / Liebe … | Dear … (to a man / woman you know) |
| Hallo … | Hi … |
| Sehr geehrte Frau … | Dear Ms … (formal) |
| Sehr geehrter Herr … | Dear Mr … (formal) |
| Sehr geehrte Damen und Herren | Dear Sir or Madam |
| Viele Grüße / Liebe Grüße | Best wishes / Love (informal) |
| Mit freundlichen Grüßen | Kind regards (formal) |
| der Vermieter, - / die Vermieterin, -nen | landlord / landlady |
| bis bald | see you soon |
| antworten | to answer |
| die Antwort, -en | answer, reply |
German letters and emails have fixed openings and closings. Choose them by how well you know the person.
| Friends, colleagues you say du to | Offices, landlords, companies | |
|---|---|---|
| Opening | Hallo Jonas, / Lieber Jonas, / Liebe Meera, | Sehr geehrte Frau Schulz, / Sehr geehrter Herr Braun, / Sehr geehrte Damen und Herren, |
| Ending | Viele Grüße / Liebe Grüße / Bis bald! | Mit freundlichen Grüßen |
Note the endings: Lieber and Sehr geehrter for a man, Liebe and Sehr geehrte for a woman. After the comma, the first sentence starts with a small letter: Lieber Jonas, leider kann ich …
A good cancellation has three parts: say sorry, give a reason and offer something. Useful phrases: Leider kann ich am Samstag nicht kommen. (Unfortunately I can't come on Saturday.) Ich bin krank. / Ich muss arbeiten. (reason) Können wir einen neuen Termin machen? (offer). With a modal verb, the second verb goes to the end of the sentence.
Tap the words in the right order.
You cannot come to the language course tomorrow. Write a short email to your teacher, Ms Wagner: apologise, give a reason and ask what homework you should do.
Betreff: Kurs morgen Sehr geehrte Frau Wagner, leider kann ich morgen nicht zum Kurs kommen. Ich habe einen Termin beim Arzt. Was sind die Hausaufgaben? Mit freundlichen Grüßen Arjun Mehta
In Germany emails to offices, landlords and companies are written formally, even when the topic is small. Always add a clear subject line (Betreff), your full name and, for offices, any reference number from their letter (Aktenzeichen). Messages on WhatsApp between colleagues are usually informal, but start with Sie unless they have offered du.
Related: A1 writing practice · German phrases you need · German work culture
