German Postal Vocabulary
At the Post Office - bei der Post
An annotated English-German Glossary and Phrasebook
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In this section of our helpful guide to German letter-writing and using the post office we have vocabulary related to the post office (die Post) and postal services (Postdienstleistungen). Also see our Sample Personal Letters and German Business Vocabulary for business correspondence.
Going to the post office in Germany today is a far cry from the old days! No more special windows for each service and very limited opening hours. Today you go to the next clerk at any window for everything from banking to express mail. Some larger post offices and those at train stations are open late and on holidays! Here is a glossary (with phrasebook) to help you at the Post.
| Postal Vocabulary Annotated English-German Phrasebook |
|
| AT THE POST OFFICE • AUF DER POST | |
| English | Deutsch |
| post office | die Post / das Postamt |
| German Postal Bank | die Postbank |
| Web: Postbank (in German) | |
| German Postal Service | die Deutsche Post AG |
| Web: Deutsche Post (in German) Web: Deutsche Post (in English) |
|
| AT THE COUNTER • AM SCHALTER | |
| by air mail | mit / per Luftpost |
| Note: The old distinction between "surface mail" and "air mail" is pretty much history. All mail between Europe and most other parts of the world goes by air. Even packages no longer go by sea. | |
| customs form / declaration | die Zollerklärung |
| DHL | DHL |
| Note: The express shipping company DHL is owned by Deutsche Post. | |
| express mail | die Eilsendung / die Expressmail |
| How long does it take for a package to get to... ? - Wie lange braucht ein Packet nach... ? | |
| general delivery | postlagernde Sendungen |
| die Post | |
| package, parcel | das Paket |
| postage stamp | die Briefmarke |
| I'd like five 90-cent stamps. - Ich möchte fünf Briefmarken zu 90 (neunzig) Cent. | |
| postage | das Porto |
| post card(s) | die Postkarte(n) |
| registered (mail) | per Einschreiben |
| registered letter | der Einschreibebrief |
| self-sticking stamps | selbstklebende Marken |
| small package / parcel | das Päkchen |
| special delivery letter | der Eilbrief |
| special delivery mail | die Eilsendung |
| stamp(s) | die Briefmarke(n) |
| to stamp, put on a stamp | frankieren |
| MAIL • DIE POST | |
| mailbox | der Briefkasten |
| mail carrier | der Postbote / die Postbotin |
| mailman, postman | der Postbote |
| ON THE ENVELOPE • AUF DEM UMSCHLAG | |
| English | Deutsch |
| Address unknown | unbekannt verzogen |
| Deceased | verstorben |
| Forward | nachsenden |
| From / Sender | Absender (der) |
| Moved (to) | verzogen (nach) |
| Moved out of the country / abroad | ins Ausland Verzogen |
| P.O. Box 21233 | Postfach 21233 |
| postal code - ZIP code | PLZ = Postleitzahl (die) |
| Postage paid (w/ digital code) | DV bezahlt |
| Postage paid (Port payé) | Freimachung (DV) |
| Printed matter | Drucksache (die) |
| Refused | verweigert |
| Undeliverable | unzustellbar |
| Unknown - No such person | unbekannt |
| REMARKS Printed or written on envelope / package |
|
| DEUTSCH | ENGLISH |
| Bei Umzug Anschriftenbenachrichtigungskarte! | New address requested! ("If recipient has moved, send a change-of-address card!") |
| Bei Umzug mit neuer Anschrift zurück! | If recipent has moved, return to sender with new address! |
| Bitte an Absender zurück! | Please return to sender! |
| Bitte Freimachen! | Please use postage stamp! (pay postage) |
| Entgelt bezahlt | Postage paid |
| Maschinenfähig | Machine readable |
| Nicht nachsenden! | Do not forward! |
| Wenn unzustellbar, zurück! | If undeliverable, return to sender! |
MORE > Personal Letter Phrases 1
MORE > Personal Letter Phrases 2
Musterbriefe > Sample Personal Letters in German
Musterbriefe > Sample Business Letters in German
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