die  Korrespondenz

B2

Estimated CEFR level.

/kɔʁɛspɔnˈdɛnts/

✉️ What does "die Korrespondenz" mean?

Die Korrespondenz (feminine) primarily refers to the written exchange of information between people or institutions. This includes letters, emails, faxes, and other written communications.

• Correspondence/Written Communication: The entire exchange of letters and other written documents, often in a business or official context. Example: Die gesamte Korrespondenz mit dem Kunden wurde archiviert. (The entire correspondence with the customer was archived.)
• Agreement/Match (less common): In a more specific, often scientific or technical context, it can also mean an agreement or correspondence between two things. Example: Die Korrespondenz zwischen den Messwerten war erstaunlich hoch. (The correspondence between the measured values was surprisingly high.)

🚨 Mostly, the word is used in the sense of written communication.

Article rules for der, die, and das

📊 Grammar in Detail: Die Korrespondenz

"Korrespondenz" is a feminine noun. It is mostly used in the singular as it often describes an entire process or collection. The plural "die Korrespondenzen" is possible but less common, referring to multiple individual pieces of mail or exchanges of letters.

Declension Singular

Declension Plural

📝 Example Sentences

1. Die geschäftliche Korrespondenz nimmt viel Zeit in Anspruch.
   (Business correspondence takes up a lot of time.)
2. Ich muss noch meine private Korrespondenz erledigen.
   (I still have to deal with my private correspondence.)
3. In der Korrespondenz des Ministers fanden sich interessante Details.
   (Interesting details were found in the minister's correspondence.)
4. Wir fanden klare Korrespondenzen zwischen den beiden Datensätzen.
   (We found clear correspondences/matches between the two datasets. - Plural, meaning 'matches')

💡 How to use "Korrespondenz"

• Context: Often used in formal, business, or administrative settings. Less common in purely private, casual conversation (where people might say "Briefe schreiben" or "E-Mails schreiben" - writing letters/emails).
• Typical Phrases: "die Korrespondenz führen/erledigen" (to handle/deal with the correspondence), "in Korrespondenz stehen mit jemandem" (to be in correspondence with someone), "die gesamte Korrespondenz" (the entire correspondence).
• Distinction:
  • Brief: A single letter. Korrespondenz is the overall exchange or the body of written items.
  • E-Mail: A specific form of electronic correspondence. Korrespondenz is the umbrella term.
  • Kommunikation: Also includes oral exchange. Korrespondenz is specifically written.
  • Schriftverkehr: Very similar meaning, often used synonymously.
• Plural Usage: The plural "Korrespondenzen" is used less frequently. Mostly when referring to specific, individual written documents, different types of correspondence, or when it means "matches/agreements".

🧠 Mnemonics for Korrespondenz

Article Mnemonic: Think of things involved in correspondence that are often feminine in German: die Post (the mail), die E-Mail, die Nachricht (the message). It all fits under the umbrella of die Korrespondenz. Imagine die Sekretärin (the female secretary) handling die Korrespondenz.

Meaning Mnemonic: Imagine letters or emails "responding" back and forth – they are co-responding. That's Korrespondenz – a written dialogue or agreement.

🔄 Synonyms & Antonyms

⚠️ Similar Words

• Korrespondent/Korrespondentin: (Correspondent) Person who handles correspondence or (in journalism) reports from another location.

😂 A Little Joke

Warum hat der Briefträger seinen Job gekündigt? Weil er die ständige Korrespondenz-Kontrolle leid war!

(Why did the mailman quit his job? Because he was tired of the constant correspondence control!)

✒️ Poem about Korrespondenz

Von Hand zu Hand, von Ort zu Ort,
fliegt das geschriebene Wort.
Mal förmlich, mal ganz schlicht,
die Korrespondenz hält ihr Gewicht.
Ob E-Mail schnell, ob Brief im Port,
sie trägt die Nachricht fort und fort.

(From hand to hand, from place to place,
flies the written word apace.
Sometimes formal, sometimes plain,
correspondence bears its weight and strain.
Whether email fast, or letter sent by post,
it carries messages from coast to coast.)

❓ Riddle

Ich bin ein Austausch, doch nicht gesprochen,
werde in Büros oft wochenlang gerochen.
Ich fülle Ordner, digital und alt,
mein Inhalt ist mal heiß, mal kalt.
Mal bring ich Freude, mal auch Last,
im Geschäftsleben bin ich oft ein Gast.

Was bin ich?
... Die Korrespondenz

(I am an exchange, but not spoken,
In offices, my presence is often woken [lit: smelled for weeks].
I fill folders, digital and old,
My content is sometimes hot, sometimes cold.
Sometimes I bring joy, sometimes a burden vast,
In business life, I am often a guest.)

(What am I?
... Correspondence / Die Korrespondenz)

ℹ️ Other Information

• Word Origin: The word comes from the French "correspondance", which in turn derives from the Middle Latin "correspondere", composed of "cor-" (together) and "respondere" (to answer, to match). So it literally means "to answer each other" or "to match one another".
• Related Terms: Korrespondent(in) (correspondent - male/female), korrespondieren (to correspond - verb).