Definition
A container into which mail is posted or placed for the recipient.
Translations
- English
- letterbox
- Français
- boîte aux lettres
- Türkçe
- posta kutusu
- Polski
- skrzynka pocztowa
- Русский
- почтовый ящик
- Українська
- поштова скринька
GERMAN DICTIONARY
der Briefkasten
- A2
- Noun
- Home & Household
letterbox
/deːɐ̯ ˈbʁiːfˌkastn̩/
Meaning and translations
Meaning, definition and translations of this sense.
Grammar & classification
Main grammatical and classification properties of the word.
- Article
- der
- Gender
- Masculine
- Plural
- Briefkästen
- Part of speech
- Noun
- CEFR level
- A2
- Morphology
- Compound
- Topics
- Home & HouseholdPrimary
Usage examples
Examples showing real usage and grammatical forms.
- Der Briefkasten ist neben der Haustür.NominativSing.The mailbox is next to the front door.
- Sie leert den Briefkasten jeden Morgen.AkkusativSing.She empties the mailbox every morning.
- Der Briefträger nähert sich dem Briefkasten.DativSing.The mail carrier approaches the mailbox.
- Die Klappe des Briefkastens ist beschädigt.GenitivSing.The flap of the mailbox is damaged.
- Die Briefkästen stehen vor den Häusern.NominativPlur.The mailboxes stand in front of the houses.
- Der Hausmeister leert die Briefkästen jeden Morgen.AkkusativPlur.The caretaker empties the mailboxes every morning.
- Den Briefkästen werden neue Aufkleber angebracht.DativPlur.New stickers are attached to the mailboxes.
- Die Farben der Briefkästen sind unterschiedlich.GenitivPlur.The colors of the mailboxes are different.
Pronunciation and forms
Pronunciation and audio for the lemma and important forms.
-
Lemma
Briefkasten/ˈbʁiːfˌkastn̩/
-
Article phrase
der Briefkasten/deːɐ̯ ˈbʁiːfˌkastn̩/
-
Plural
Briefkästen/ˈbʁiːfˌkɛstn̩/
Declension / Forms
How the noun changes across German cases and singular or plural.
| Case | Singular | Plural |
|---|---|---|
| Nominativ | der Briefkasten | die Briefkästen |
| Akkusativ | den Briefkasten | die Briefkästen |
| Dativ | dem Briefkasten | den Briefkästen |
| Genitiv | des Briefkastens | der Briefkästen |
Usage and collocations
Typical constructions, prepositions and word combinations.
- Collocationden Briefkasten leeren
- CollocationPost in den Briefkasten werfen
- Collocationden Briefkasten öffnen
- Adjective combinationein voller Briefkasten
- Adjective combinationein leerer Briefkasten
- Sentence patternDer Briefkasten hängt neben der Haustür.
Semantic relations
How this meaning relates to other meanings and easily confused words.
- Broader termBehälter
A Briefkasten is a special Behälter for mail, whereas Behälter can also hold many other contents.
- Related termPostfach
A Postfach is usually an assigned place for receiving mail; a Briefkasten is mainly used for putting in or leaving mail.
Word formation and word family
How the word is formed and its reviewed lexical family.
Formation typeCompound
- BriefOther
- KastenOther
„Briefkasten“ is a compound noun made up of „Brief“ and „Kasten“.
Word family
- Briefkastenschlüssel
- Briefkastenanlage
- Briefmarke — postage stamp
- Brief — letter
- Kasten