die / das  E-Mail

A2

Estimated CEFR level.

/ˈiːmeɪl/

📧 What does E-Mail mean?

The word E-Mail is an abbreviation borrowed from English for electronic mail. It refers to a message transmitted electronically or the system used for transmitting such messages.

Interestingly, "E-Mail" in German can have two articles:

• die E-Mail (feminine): This is by far the most common form and the one recommended by the Duden (the official German dictionary). It usually refers to the individual, specific message. Think: 'the message'.
• das E-Mail (neuter): This form is less common and primarily used in Austria and Switzerland. It can also refer to the individual message, but sometimes carries a stronger connotation of the 'e-mail system' or 'medium' as a whole. ⚠️ While not incorrect, using 'das E-Mail' might sound unusual or slightly technical/impersonal in Germany.

Generally, you're always safe using die E-Mail.

🧐 Grammar: Die E-Mail vs. Das E-Mail

Here are the declension tables for both possible genders of the word "E-Mail".

Declension of "die E-Mail" (feminine)

Declension of "das E-Mail" (neuter)

📝 Example Sentences

1. Ich habe dir die E-Mail gestern Abend geschickt. (I sent you the e-mail last night. - Referring to the message)
2. Kannst du bitte die E-Mails checken? (Can you please check the e-mails? - Plural, referring to multiple messages)
3. In Österreich hört man manchmal: Hast du das E-Mail bekommen? (In Austria, you sometimes hear: Did you receive the e-mail? - Neuter, referring to the message)
4. Das E-Mail als Kommunikationsmittel hat die Welt verändert. (E-mail as a means of communication has changed the world. - Neuter, referring more to the system/medium)

💡 How to Use E-Mail Correctly?

The choice between die E-Mail and das E-Mail mainly depends on the region and sometimes on nuance:

• Germany: Here, die E-Mail is clearly dominant. Using das E-Mail is very rare and might be perceived as unusual or even incorrect.
• Austria & Switzerland: Here, das E-Mail is quite common and accepted alongside die E-Mail. Sometimes das E-Mail is used to emphasize the concept or system more strongly, but often it's used synonymously for the individual message.

Recommendation: If you want to be on the safe side, always use die E-Mail. This is understood everywhere and is the form recommended by the Duden dictionary.

Typical verbs used with E-Mails are: schreiben (to write), senden (to send), verschicken (to dispatch), empfangen (to receive), bekommen (to get), erhalten (to receive - slightly more formal), lesen (to read), beantworten (to answer), weiterleiten (to forward), löschen (to delete), checken (to check), abrufen (to retrieve).

Example collocations: eine wichtige E-Mail (an important e-mail), eine E-Mail-Adresse (an e-mail address), ein E-Mail-Konto (an e-mail account), der E-Mail-Verkehr (e-mail traffic/correspondence).

🧠 Mnemonics for E-Mail

Mnemonic for the Article:

Think: Most messages (like die Nachricht) feel 'feminine' in German grammar, so die E-Mail is the most common. For the rarer form, think: das System is neuter, so das E-Mail sometimes refers to the system.

Mnemonic for the Meaning:

Easy one! E for Electronic, and Mail is like German 'Mail' (Post). It's simply Electronic Mail.

🔄 Synonyms and Antonyms

Synonyms (Words with similar meaning):

• Mail: Short form, very common (e.g., "Ich schick dir 'ne Mail." - I'll send you an email.)
• Elektronische Post: (Electronic post) - Slightly more formal, describes exactly what it is.
• Nachricht: (Message) - More general term, can also mean SMS, letter, etc., but often used for e-mail in context.

Antonyms (Opposite terms):

• Briefpost: (Letter post) - Traditional mail via letters.
• Schneckenpost: (Snail mail) - Colloquial and slightly humorous term for slow letter post.

Similar Terms (Beware of confusion):

• Newsletter: A specific type of e-mail, usually promotional or informational, sent to a mailing list.
• Spam(-Mail): Unsolicited (advertising) e-mail.
• Post: Can refer to letter mail or messages in general (including e-mails). Context is key.

😄 A Little Joke

Warum hat der Computer kalte Füße bekommen?

(Why did the computer get cold feet?)

Weil er zu viele Fenster offen hatte und ihm eine E-Mail mit "Draft" (Zugluft) reinkam!

(Because it had too many windows open and received an e-mail with a "Draft"!)

(Note: "Draft" in English can mean a preliminary version of an email, but also a current of air. German "Zugluft" means draft/current of air.)

✒️ Poem about the E-Mail

Ein Klick, ein Wort, ein Tastenton,
die E-Mail fliegt zum Zielort schon.
Ob 'die' ob 'das', ist manchmal fraglich,
die Nachricht selbst, die ist alltäglich.

Sie bringt uns Grüße, fern und nah,
mal ist sie Job, mal Hurra!
Sekundenschnell, ganz ohne Porto,
erreicht sie jeden Wunschort so.

A click, a word, a keyboard tone,
the e-mail flies to its destination zone.
Whether 'die' or 'das', sometimes a query,
the message itself is ordinary.

It brings us greetings, far and near,
sometimes it's work, sometimes a cheer!
In seconds fast, no postage fee,
it reaches any place you decree.

❓ Little Riddle

Ich habe einen Kopf (Header) und einen Körper (Body), aber keine Glieder.
Ich reise durch Leitungen, komme immer wieder.
Manchmal bin ich 'die', in den Alpen auch 'das' für Kenner.
Ich trage Nachrichten schneller als jeder Renner.

Was bin ich?

I have a head (Header) and a body, but no limbs.
I travel through wires, returning again and again.
Sometimes I am 'die', in the Alps also 'das' for connoisseurs.
I carry messages faster than any runner.

What am I?

Solution: Die E-Mail (or das E-Mail)

🌐 Other Information

• Origin: The word "E-Mail" is an Anglicism, directly adopted from English e-mail (for electronic mail).
• Spelling: Official German orthography dictates capitalization at the beginning and a hyphen: "E-Mail". Lowercase ("e-mail") or writing it as one word ("Email") are incorrect according to official rules but commonly seen.
• Compound words: There are many compound words with E-Mail, e.g.: E-Mail-Adresse (e-mail address), E-Mail-Programm (e-mail program/client), E-Mail-Verteiler (e-mail distribution list), E-Mail-Marketing, E-Mail-Konto (e-mail account).