Writing Emails and Letters (Briefe und E-Mails)

Whether you are writing a formal business email, a holiday postcard, or a message to a friend, German has specific conventions for written communication. Getting the tone, greeting, and closing right is essential — especially in formal contexts where German conventions differ significantly from English. This lesson covers both formal and informal writing.

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Formal Email / Letter Structure

A formal German email or letter follows this structure:

1. Betreff (Subject line)
2. Anrede (Greeting)
3. Einleitung (Introduction)
4. Hauptteil (Main body)
5. Schluss (Closing)
6. Grußformel (Sign-off)
7. Unterschrift (Signature)

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Formal Greetings (Anrede)

German	English	When to Use
Sehr geehrte Frau [Nachname],	Dear Mrs / Ms [Surname],	You know the recipient's name (female)
Sehr geehrter Herr [Nachname],	Dear Mr [Surname],	You know the recipient's name (male)
Sehr geehrte Damen und Herren,	Dear Sir or Madam,	You do not know the recipient's name

Important: After the greeting, German uses a comma, and the next line begins with a lowercase letter (unless it is a noun or "Sie").

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