How to Write Personal Letters in German

Below you will find helpful guidelines, an example, and an English-German phrasebook for writing personal letters, email, and greeting cards in German.

PERSONAL LETTER WRITING AUF DEUTSCH
English	Deutsch
THE ENVELOPE • DER UMSCHLAG
Titles	Titel
Mr - Mrs/Ms - Miss    These titles are usually not abbreviated in German. German uses Frau for both Mrs and Ms (any woman 18 or older).	Herrn - Frau - Fräulein    Note the 'n' ending on Herrn, reflecting the understood phrase: an Herrn XYZ (to Mr. XYZ)
Address (female)	Die Anschrift (weiblich)
Mrs (Ms) Maria Schmidt Schillerstrasse 19 (19 Schiller St.) postal code & city   (D=Germany, A=Austria, CH=Switz.)	Frau Maria Schmidt (Fräulein if under 18) Schillerstraße 18 D-23451 Kleindorf Germany (if writing from outside the country)
Address (male)	Die Anschrift (männlich)
Mr Karl Braun Mozartstrasse 35 (35 Mozart St.) postal code & city   (A=Austria, D=Germany, CH=Switz.)	Herrn Karl Braun (Note the n!) Mozartstraße 35 A-3451 Schöndorf Austria (if writing from outside the country)
Note: Straße is often abbreviated Str. Other types of streets: Allee (avenue, boulevard), Gasse (lane), Weg (way, drive).
Return Address	Der Absender
Sarah Brown 253 Fall Lane Cactus City, NV 89101 USA (if mailed from abroad)	A German return address (preceded by the abbreviation Abs.) usually goes on the back of the envelope.
ON THE ENVELOPE • AUF DEM UMSCHLAG
Air Mail	Luftpost (Germany) - Flugpost(Austria)
c/o - in care of    "John Smith c/o the Meiers"	bei or c/o    "John Smith bei Meier" More often: "John Smith c/o Meier"
P.O. Box 12345	Postfach 12345
Registered Mail	Eingeschrieben
(postage) stamp	die Briefmarke
PERSONAL LETTER PHRASES NOTE: These phrases are only appropriate for personal correspondence, not in formal or business situations!
English	Deutsch
Salutations • Anreden
Dear Maria,	Liebe Maria, (female, e-ending)
Dear Hans,	Lieber Hans, (male, er-ending)
Dear Maria and Hans,	Liebe Maria, lieber Hans,
Dear Dad / Dear Mom,	Lieber Vati, / Liebe Mutti,
Dear Friends,	Liebe Freunde,
My Dearest Karl,	Mein liebster Karl,
My Dearest Maria,	Meine liebste Maria,

English	Deutsch
GENERAL PHRASES These phrases are only appropriate for personal correspondence, not in formal or business situations!
Thank you for your letter	Vielen Dank für deinen Brief
It was good to hear from you again	Ich habe mich gefreut, wieder von dir zu hören
I'm sorry that I haven't written for so long	Tut mir Leid, dass ich so lange nicht geschrieben habe
Please don't be mad at me for...	Sei mir bitte nicht böse, dass ich...
Closing Remarks
Give my regards/love to Maria and Hans	Ganz liebe Grüße an Maria und Hans
Tell them how much I miss them	Sag ihnen, wie sehr sie mir fehlen
Tell her/him how much I miss her/him	Sag ihr/ihm, wie sehr sie/er mir fehlt
Please write again soon!	Schreib mal wieder!
Let us hear from you now and then	Lasst ab und zu wieder von dir hören