die
Anschrift
📮 What exactly is *eine Anschrift*?
The German noun die Anschrift (feminine, article: die) refers to the specific address of a person, company, or institution where mail or packages can be delivered. It typically includes:
- Recipient's name (Name des Empfängers)
- Street and house number (Straße und Hausnummer)
- Postal code and city/town (Postleitzahl (PLZ) und Ort)
- Possibly the country (Land) for international mail
Essentially, die Anschrift is a synonym for die Adresse (address), but it is often preferred in more formal or official contexts (behördliche Kontexte).
Article rules for der, die, and das
-ft/ -schaft → almost always feminine.
All -schaft nouns are feminine, but not all -ft nouns are.
📖 Grammar Details: *die Anschrift*
The noun 'Anschrift' is feminine. Therefore, the correct article is die.
Declension Singular
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative (Who/What?) | die | Anschrift |
| Genitive (Whose?) | der | Anschrift |
| Dative (To whom?) | der | Anschrift |
| Accusative (Whom/What?) | die | Anschrift |
Declension Plural
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die | Anschriften |
| Genitive | der | Anschriften |
| Dative | den | Anschriften |
| Accusative | die | Anschriften |
Example Sentences
- Bitte geben Sie Ihre vollständige Anschrift an.
(Please provide your complete address.) - Die Anschrift des Empfängers stand unleserlich auf dem Umschlag.
(The recipient's address was illegible on the envelope.) - Unter welcher Anschrift sind Sie derzeit gemeldet?
(Under which address are you currently registered?) - Wir benötigen die Anschriften aller Teilnehmer für den Versand der Unterlagen.
(We need the addresses of all participants to send the documents.)
✉️ When to use *'die Anschrift'*?
Die Anschrift is primarily used in the context of postal services (Postverkehr), forms (Formulare), and official documents (offizielle Dokumente).
- Filling out forms: When completing a form (online or on paper), you will often be asked for your Anschrift.
- Letters & Parcels: The correct Anschrift is crucial for the delivery (Zustellung) of mail.
- Official language: Authorities (Behörden) and companies often use the term Anschrift more frequently than the more common everyday word Adresse.
Comparison with 'Adresse':
Adresse and Anschrift are largely synonymous. However, Adresse is the broader and more common term in everyday life (Alltag). You can talk about an E-Mail-Adresse or IP-Adresse, but not an E-Mail-Anschrift. Anschrift refers more specifically to the postal delivery address (postalische Zustelladresse).
🧠 Mnemonics for *'die Anschrift'*
- Remembering the article: Many German nouns ending in '-schrift' are feminine: die Zeitschrift (magazine), die Unterschrift (signature), die Handschrift (handwriting) – and also die Anschrift. Remember: 'Schrift' (writing) is feminine!
- Remembering the meaning: Think of an Anschrift as something you write (from 'Schrift') onto (from 'an-') a letter or package. It's the *written* information for the mail carrier.
🔄 Synonyms, Antonyms & Potential Confusion
Synonyms
- Adresse: The most common synonym, often interchangeable.
- Zustelladresse / Lieferadresse: Delivery address - emphasizes the purpose of delivery.
- Postanschrift: Postal address - clarifies it's about the mail address.
- Wohnsitz / Domizil: Residence / Domicile - refers more to the place of living, not primarily the delivery information.
Antonyms
Direct antonyms are difficult. In the context of mailing, one could mention:
- Absender: Sender - The person/address the shipment comes from (opposite of the recipient/Anschrift).
- Herkunftsort: Place of origin - The place something comes from (as opposed to the destination/Anschrift).
Similar Words (Caution!)
- Aufschrift: Inscription, label - The writing on an object (e.g., "Vorsicht Glas!" / "Handle with care!" on a package), not the address itself.
- Abschrift: Copy, transcript - A copy of a text.
😂 A little joke about the *Anschrift*
German: Fragt der Postbote den kleinen Timmy: „Ist deine Mutter zu Hause?“
Timmy: „Ja, klar!“
Der Postbote klingelt Sturm, aber niemand öffnet.
Wütend fragt er Timmy: „Du hast doch gesagt, deine Mutter ist da?!“
Timmy: „Stimmt ja auch, aber wir wohnen hier nicht!“
English: The postman asks little Timmy: "Is your mother home?"
Timmy: "Yes, sure!"
The postman rings the bell insistently, but nobody answers.
Angrily, he asks Timmy: "But you said your mother was here?!"
Timmy: "That's true, but we don't live here!"
(Okay, the joke isn't directly about the *Anschrift*, but about delivery problems... 😉)
📜 A poem about the *Anschrift*
German:
Ein Brieflein soll auf Reisen gehn,
doch wohin, das muss draufstehn.
Die Anschrift, klar und fein,
führt es zum Empfänger heim.
Straße, Nummer, Ort und PLZ,
so kommt die Botschaft an, zuletzt.
English Translation:
A little letter wants to travel,
But where to? It must be labelled.
The address, clear and neat,
Guides it home, oh so sweet.
Street, number, town, and postal code,
Thus the message finds its abode.
❓ Riddle Time: What am I?
German:
Ich zeige, wo jemand wohnt,
damit der Postbote wird belohnt.
Ich steh' auf Briefen und Paketen,
um den richtigen Weg zu treten.
Mal kurz, mal lang, mit Zahl und Namen,
ohne mich würd' nichts ankommen.
Was bin ich?
English:
I show where someone resides,
So the mail carrier gets their prize.
I'm on letters and packages placed,
To tread the correct path, not misplaced.
Sometimes short, sometimes long, with number and name,
Without me, nothing would arrive, it's a shame.
What am I?
Solution: die Anschrift (the address)
🧩 Other Info & Trivia
Word Composition (Wortzusammensetzung):
Die Anschrift is composed of the preposition/prefix an- (on, at) and the noun die Schrift (writing, script). So, it originally described what is *written onto* something to assign it to someone.
Trivia:
In Germany, providing the correct Anschrift is legally required for many official procedures (e.g., registration office - Melderegister).
📝 Summary: is it der, die or das Anschrift?
The word 'Anschrift' is feminine, so the correct article is die. It refers to a postal address or delivery address, consisting of name, street, house number, postal code, and city/town.