der
Briefkasten
📬 What does "der Briefkasten" mean?
Der Briefkasten (noun, masculine) refers to a container, usually a box, designed to receive mail items like letters (Briefe), postcards (Postkarten), or small parcels. There are two main types:
- Hausbriefkasten: A private mailbox attached to a house or building, where the mail carrier delivers mail for the residents.
- Postbriefkasten (öffentlicher Briefkasten): A public mailbox, usually yellow in Germany (belonging to Deutsche Post or other postal services), located in public spaces where you can drop off stamped mail for shipping.
It's a compound word made of Brief (letter) and Kasten (box).
Article rules for der, die, and das
-en → mostly masculine.
1. All diminutives with '-chen' are neutral, like 'das Mädchen'. 2. Nouns derived from verbs are always neutral ('das Schrieben'). 3. There are many -en words, we won't list them all.
⚙️ Grammar in Detail: Der Briefkasten
The word "Briefkasten" is a masculine noun. Its declension is as follows:
Singular Declension
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative (Subject) | der | Briefkasten |
| Genitive (Possessive) | des | Briefkastens |
| Dative (Indirect Object) | dem | Briefkasten |
| Accusative (Direct Object) | den | Briefkasten |
Plural Declension
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die | Briefkästen |
| Genitive | der | Briefkästen |
| Dative | den | Briefkästen |
| Accusative | die | Briefkästen |
Example Sentences
- Der Postbote steckt den Brief in den Briefkasten. (The mail carrier puts the letter into the mailbox. - Accusative Singular)
- Ist heute schon Post im Briefkasten? (Is there any mail in the mailbox today? - Dative Singular - asking about location)
- Der Schlüssel für den Briefkasten hängt am Brett. (The key for the mailbox is hanging on the board. - Accusative Singular - following preposition 'für')
- Die Farbe des Briefkastens blättert ab. (The paint of the mailbox is peeling off. - Genitive Singular)
- Die Briefkästen in dieser Straße sind alle blau. (The mailboxes on this street are all blue. - Nominative Plural)
- Wirf den Brief bitte in einen der Briefkästen dort drüben. (Please put the letter into one of the mailboxes over there. - Genitive Plural - part of a group)
🗣️ Everyday Usage
"Der Briefkasten" is a very common word in daily life.
- Private context: Referring to one's own mailbox at home ("Ich schaue mal in den Briefkasten." - I'll check the mailbox.; "Unser Briefkasten ist voll." - Our mailbox is full.).
- Public context: Referring to the yellow public mailboxes ("Ich muss den Brief noch zum Briefkasten bringen." - I still need to take the letter to the mailbox.; "Wann ist die nächste Leerung des Briefkastens?" - When is the next collection from the mailbox?).
- Figurative use (rare): Occasionally used informally for a place where messages are left, even digitally (like an email inbox), but this is uncommon. The primary meaning is physical.
Difference from "Postfach" (P.O. Box): A Postfach is a lockable box at the post office that you can rent to pick up your mail. A Briefkasten is for receiving or sending mail directly at your residence or in public.
💡 Memory Aids for Briefkasten
Article Mnemonic: Think of der Kasten (the box). Many German nouns ending in "-kasten" are masculine (der Sandkasten - sandbox, der Werkzeugkasten - toolbox). Since a Briefkasten is a type of Kasten, it's der Briefkasten.
Meaning Mnemonic: It's a box (Kasten) for letters (Briefe) = Briefkasten. Quite logical!
🔄 Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms (Words with similar meaning):
- Postkasten: Very common synonym, often used interchangeably.
- Hausbriefkasten: More specific for the private mailbox at a house.
- Postbriefkasten: More specific for the public mailbox (usually yellow).
- Briefeinwurf: Technically refers more to the slot (Einwurf) where mail is inserted, but sometimes used for the whole box.
Antonyms (Opposites):
There isn't a direct antonym. Depending on the context, you might consider:
- Absender: The sender of the letter (vs. the mailbox as the receiving/collection point).
- Postausgang: The process of sending mail (vs. the mailbox as an incoming/collection point).
Similar but different terms:
- Postfach: P.O. Box - a rented box at the post office for mail pickup.
- Paketkasten/Paketbox: Parcel box - specifically designed for receiving parcels.
😄 A Little Joke
Warum hat der Briefkasten nie Geheimnisse?
Weil ihm ständig jemand etwas steckt! 😉
(Why does the mailbox never have secrets? Because people are always putting things into it! / Literally: Because someone is always sticking something to him/it! - The verb 'stecken' can mean 'to put/stick into' but also 'to tell someone something secretly/slip someone information'.)
📜 Little Poem
Der Kasten an der Wand so schlicht,
wartet auf Post, bei Tag und Licht.
Mal Rechnungen, mal lieber Gruß,
der Briefkasten bringt Freud' und Verdruss.
Der Postbote kommt, wirft schnell was ein,
was mag heute wohl im Kasten sein?
(The box on the wall so plain,
waits for mail, in sun and rain.
Sometimes bills, sometimes greetings dear,
the mailbox brings joy and fear.
The mailman comes, quickly drops something in,
what might be in the box today, where to begin?)
🧩 Riddle Time
Ich habe einen Schlitz, aber kein Geld.
Ich schlucke Briefe aus aller Welt.
Mal steh' ich am Haus, mal an der Straßenecke breit,
für deine Post steh' ich allzeit bereit.
Wer bin ich?
(... Der Briefkasten)
(I have a slot, but no money.
I swallow letters from every country.
Sometimes I stand by the house, sometimes broadly on the street corner,
For your mail, I am always ready as a server.)
Who am I?
(... The Mailbox / Letterbox)
🧐 Trivia
- Word Composition: The word is a compound noun formed from "der Brief" (letter) and "der Kasten" (box). The grammatical gender is determined by the last part, "Kasten", making it masculine: "der Briefkasten".
- Color: Public mailboxes belonging to Deutsche Post in Germany are distinctively yellow (Postgelb). In other countries, they often have different colors (e.g., red in the UK, blue in the USA).
- Collection Times (Leerungszeiten): Public mailboxes usually have a sign indicating the times when the mail is collected.
📝 Summary: is it der, die or das Briefkasten?
The word "Briefkasten" is masculine. The correct article is der Briefkasten. The plural is die Briefkästen.