German course

Lesson 159 of 240

New here? This is lesson 159 of a free 240-lesson German course.

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A polite message at work in German

Priya needs to email an external partner about the recycling app. Jonas wants the message short, and he waits while she types at the loft.

You will explain why you are writing, mention an attachment, ask for a brief reply, and close the email.

These thanks and this sign-off are email conventions here; spoken formal thanks and farewells come later. Use Sie with the partner and du with Jonas.

By the end of this lesson

Write a short polite message to an external partner.

  • Ich schreibe Ihnen wegen des Projekts.I'm writing to you about the project.
  • Könnten Sie mir bitte kurz antworten?Could you send me a quick reply?
  • Im Anhang ist die neueste Version.The latest version is attached.
  • Falls Sie Fragen haben, geben Sie mir Bescheid.If you have any questions, just let me know.
  • Vielen Dank schon mal im Voraus.Thanks in advance.
  • Mit freundlichen GrüßenKind regards

Scene — the loft desk

At the co-working loft by the canal, Priya has a blank email open. Jonas stands nearby with a coffee mug and wants the message short.

The partner is outside the team, so the email uses Sie. Priya and Jonas speak to each other with du.

Priya sits at the long desk with an empty email open while Jonas stands nearby holding his mug and encouraging a short message.

Learn — a polite work message

Six lines build a short work email: why you are writing, a request, an attachment, and a polite close.

The thanks and sign-off are for the written message, not a spoken farewell.

  1. Priya types at the laptop while Jonas watches nearby with his mug.

    Ich schreibe Ihnen wegen des Projekts.

    I'm writing to you about the project.

    When to use it: Use this to open an email and name the project.

    An external partner gets Sie; Ihnen is the form used in this sentence.

    Say it: Schreibe starts with sch, like a soft sh.

  2. Priya makes a small requesting gesture as she asks the external partner for a brief reply.

    Könnten Sie mir bitte kurz antworten?

    Could you send me a quick reply?

    When to use it: Ask this when you need a short written reply.

    Könnten Sie is the polite request for a partner; Jonas at work still gets du.

    Say it: Könnten has ö, a rounded e sound.

  3. Priya places the latest project version beside her laptop as she attaches it to the email.

    Im Anhang ist die neueste Version.

    The latest version is attached.

    When to use it: Say this when you have attached a file to the email.

    Anhang means the file included with the email.

  4. Jonas offers a gentle open-palm reminder while Priya turns toward him to consider the questions line.

    Falls Sie Fragen haben, geben Sie mir Bescheid.

    If you have any questions, just let me know.

    When to use it: Add this after the main information to invite questions.

    After Falls, the verb haben comes at the end of that first clause.

  5. Priya's hands leave the keyboard after she adds a brief note of thanks.

    Vielen Dank schon mal im Voraus.

    Thanks in advance.

    When to use it: Use this written line to thank the partner before they reply.

    This email phrase thanks the person now, before an answer has come.

  6. Priya sits upright at the laptop and completes the email's formal closing while Jonas waits nearby.

    Mit freundlichen Grüßen

    Kind regards

    When to use it: Close a formal email with this on its own line.

    Use this as the written closing before your name or signature.

    Say it: Grüßen has ü, a rounded ee sound.

Story — keep it short

Watch Priya write a short email to an external partner at the loft. Jonas keeps the message brief and checks each part with her.

The highlighted words are the lines you just learned. Turn on Show English if you need it.

  1. Priya sits at a long desk with a blank email open. Jonas stands beside her, holding his mug.
  2. JonasHalt es kurz, ja? Der Partner liest schnell.Keep it short, okay? The partner reads fast.
  3. Priya reads the draft aloud as she types.
  4. PriyaGuten Tag.Good afternoon.
  5. PriyaIch schreibe Ihnen wegen des Projekts.I'm writing to you about the project.
  6. JonasGenau. Dann die Datei, nicht die ganze Geschichte.Exactly. Then the file, not the whole story.
  7. PriyaIm Anhang ist die neueste Version.The latest version is attached.
  8. JonasBrauchst du eine kurze Antwort?Do you need a brief reply?
  9. PriyaKönnten Sie mir bitte kurz antworten?Could you send me a quick reply?
  10. JonasFrag noch nach Fragen. Das reicht.Ask about questions too. That's enough.
  11. PriyaFalls Sie Fragen haben, geben Sie mir Bescheid.If you have any questions, just let me know.
  12. JonasDanke und Gruß, dann fertig.Thanks and a closing, then you're done.
  13. PriyaVielen Dank schon mal im Voraus.Thanks in advance.
  14. PriyaMit freundlichen GrüßenKind regards.
  15. JonasKannst du mir den Entwurf zeigen?Can you show me the draft?
  16. PriyaHier ist die Mail.Here's the email.
  17. JonasPasst. Schick sie ab.That works. Send it.
  18. PriyaVielen Dank.Thanks a lot.

Practice — mail or chat

Eleven short tasks let you listen, match meanings, fill a gap, and build a line.

Keep the audience in mind: the external partner gets Sie, while Jonas gets du.

0 of 11 done

  1. What did you hear?

  2. Match the pairs

    German

    Im Anhang ist die neueste Version.Drop the English here
    Vielen Dank schon mal im Voraus.Drop the English here
    Mit freundlichen GrüßenDrop the English here

    English

    Drag an English line onto its German, or tap one and then the other.

  3. What do you say?

    You are writing to an external partner. Say why you are writing.

  4. Fill the gap

    The latest version is attached.

    Im ____ ist die neueste Version.

  5. What does it mean?

    Vielen Dank schon mal im Voraus.

  6. Pick the reply

    Jonas says:

    Wie schließt du die Mail?

    How do you close the email?

    And you reply with:

  7. Fill the gap

    If you have any questions, just let me know.

    Falls Sie Fragen haben, geben Sie mir ____.

  8. Swap the word

    You need a brief reply from the partner, not a detailed one.

    Könnten Sie mir bitte ____ antworten?

  9. True or false?

    This daytime greeting can go at the start of a work email.

  10. What do you say?

    You want to thank the external partner before they reply.

  11. What do you say?

    Jonas has checked the email. Thank him briefly.

Say it — send the mail

Now you are Priya at the loft, finishing the email to an external partner. When it is your turn, tap the microphone and speak the line.

Tap ▶ first if you want to hear the line. Your recording stays on your device.

  1. JonasHalt es kurz, ja?Keep it short, okay?
  2. Priya (you)Tell the partner you are writing about the project.

    Ich schreibe Ihnen wegen des Projekts.

    I'm writing to you about the project.

0 of 6 said

Recap — what you can say now

GermanEnglish
Ich schreibe Ihnen wegen des Projekts.I'm writing to you about the project.
Könnten Sie mir bitte kurz antworten?Could you send me a quick reply?
Im Anhang ist die neueste Version.The latest version is attached.
Falls Sie Fragen haben, geben Sie mir Bescheid.If you have any questions, just let me know.
Vielen Dank schon mal im Voraus.Thanks in advance.
Mit freundlichen GrüßenKind regards
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