die
Postleitzahl
🔢 What exactly is a Postleitzahl?
The German word Postleitzahl (often abbreviated as PLZ) refers to the postal code or zip code. It's a sequence of digits (and sometimes letters in other countries, but digits in Germany) assigned to postal addresses to facilitate the sorting and delivery of mail (Briefe, Pakete).
In German, the word is feminine, so you always say die Postleitzahl. There are no other articles or meanings associated with this noun.
It's a compound noun formed from:
So, literally, it's a "mail-guiding-number".
Article rules for der, die, and das
Numbers, calculations → almost always feminine.
Caution: When verbs are turned into nouns, the result is 'das Addieren', 'das Subtrahieren', 'das Multiplizieren', 'das Dividieren'.
🧐 Grammar Spotlight: die Postleitzahl
The noun "Postleitzahl" is feminine. Here is its declension:
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die | Postleitzahl |
| Genitive | der | Postleitzahl |
| Dative | der | Postleitzahl |
| Accusative | die | Postleitzahl |
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die | Postleitzahlen |
| Genitive | der | Postleitzahlen |
| Dative | den | Postleitzahlen |
| Accusative | die | Postleitzahlen |
Example Sentences
- Bitte geben Sie Ihre vollständige Adresse inklusive der Postleitzahl an.
(Please provide your full address including the postal code.) - Die Postleitzahl für diesen Stadtteil ist 10115.
(The postal code for this district is 10115.) - Ohne korrekte Postleitzahl kann sich die Lieferung verzögern.
(Without the correct postal code, delivery may be delayed.) - Kennen Sie die Postleitzahlen aller Bezirke in Berlin?
(Do you know the postal codes of all districts in Berlin?)
✉️ How to Use 'die Postleitzahl'
The Postleitzahl is an essential part of every German address. It usually precedes the town/city name.
- Addressing Mail: Max Mustermann, Musterstraße 1, 12345 Musterstadt. The number 12345 is the `Postleitzahl`.
- Forms: Online forms or documents often specifically ask for the "PLZ" or "Postleitzahl".
- Navigation/Search: It's used to find locations, define delivery areas, or collect statistical data.
The abbreviation PLZ (pronounced 'peh el tsett') is very common and used synonymously.
⚠️ Make sure to use the correct, usually five-digit sequence (in Germany). Incorrect postal codes often lead to delivery problems.
💡 Memory Aids for Postleitzahl
Article Mnemonic: Remember that the word ends in "-zahl". Die Zahl (the number) is feminine in German. Therefore, die Postleitzahl is also feminine. Picture a female postal worker sorting the numbers.
Meaning Mnemonic: Break down the word: Post (mail) + leiten (to guide) + Zahl (number). It's the number that guides the mail to the right place. 📮➡️📍🔢
🔄 Similar and Opposite Terms
Synonyms
- PLZ: The most common abbreviation and a direct synonym in everyday language.
- Postleitziffer: An older or alternative term, less common today than `Postleitzahl`. (Ziffer means digit).
- Postzustellbezirk (indirect): Describes the postal delivery area defined by a `PLZ`, but not the number itself.
Antonyms / Opposites
A direct antonym doesn't really exist. Contrasting concepts might be:
Potentially Confusing Words
- Postfachnummer: (PO Box number) - This is the number of a specific post office box, not the general code for an area.
- Hausnummer: (House number) - Identifies a specific building on a street, not the delivery zone.
😂 A Little Joke
Fragt der Briefträger: "Ist das Paket für Sie? Der Name ist kaum leserlich."
Antwortet der Mann: "Sehr unwahrscheinlich. Mein Name ist doch nicht 'Kaum Leserlich'!"
(Translation: The postman asks: "Is this parcel for you? The name is barely legible." The man replies: "Very unlikely. My name isn't 'Barely Legible'!")
(Okay, this one has less to do with the PLZ itself, but it's about the post! 😉)
📜 A Little Rhyme
Fünf Ziffern klar und rein,
so soll die Adresse sein.
Die Postleitzahl, klug erdacht,
hat Ordnung in die Welt gebracht.
Sie leitet Brief und auch Paket,
damit nichts auf der Reise fehlt.
Von Nord nach Süd, von Ost nach West,
hält sie die Postrouten fest.
(Translation: Five digits clear and pure, / so the address should endure. / The postal code, cleverly conceived, / has brought order to the world, believed. / It guides letters and parcels too, / so nothing gets lost, it's true. / From North to South, from East to West, / it keeps the postal routes blessed.)
❓ Riddle Time
Ich habe Ziffern, doch kann nicht rechnen.
Ich leite die Post, doch hab keine Hände.
Ich steh' vor der Stadt, auf Briefen und Karten.
Wer bin ich, die Ordnung schafft in Deutschlands Gärten?
(Translation: I have digits, but cannot calculate. / I guide the mail, but have no hands. / I stand before the city, on letters and maps. / Who am I, bringing order to Germany's lands?)
Solution: Die Postleitzahl (The postal code)
🌐 Trivia about the Postleitzahl
Word Composition
"Postleitzahl" is a typical German compound noun:
- Die Post: Refers to the postal service.
- leiten: Means to guide, direct, lead.
- Die Zahl: Means number.
Together, it means: a number that guides the mail.
History
The postal code system was first introduced in Germany in 1941 (initially two digits). This was replaced in 1962 (West Germany) and 1965 (East Germany) by four-digit systems. The current five-digit system (fünfstellige Postleitzahl) was introduced on July 1, 1993, after reunification to standardize the different systems and optimize logistics.
📝 Summary: is it der, die or das Postleitzahl?
The German noun "Postleitzahl" (postal code) is feminine. The correct article is always die: die Postleitzahl (singular), die Postleitzahlen (plural).