Ways to say it
| German | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Kugelschreiber | /ˈkuːɡəlˌʃraɪ̯bər/ | masculine |
| Stift | /ˈʃtɪft/ | masculine |
| Federhalter | [ˈfeːdɐˌhaltɐ] (narrow) | masculine |
| Füllhalter | masculine | |
| Feder | /ˈfeːdər/ | feminine |
| Kuli | /ˈkuːli/ | colloquial, masculine |
Kugelschreiber specifically refers to a ballpoint pen, while Stift is a general term for any writing or drawing implement such as a pencil or marker. To refer specifically to a fountain pen, you can use Füllhalter or the more formal Füllfederhalter. The word Feder refers to the metal nib of a pen rather than the whole instrument.
What does it mean word for word?
The word Kugelschreiber is a compound noun made from Kugel, meaning ball and Schreiber, meaning writer or pen.
Which one should you use?
Kugelschreiber is the specific term for a ballpoint pen, whereas Stift is a much broader term that can describe a pen, a pencil or a marker. For fountain pens, Füllhalter is a standard option, while Feder refers only to the nib itself.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
Kuli is a common colloquial abbreviation of Kugelschreiber. For a more formal way to denote a fountain pen, use Füllfederhalter.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
Kugelschreiber, Stift, Federhalter, Füllhalter and Kuli are all masculine, while Feder is feminine.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈkuːɡəlˌʃraɪ̯bər/
Did you know?
- The term Stift is a homonym that can also refer to a cathedral chapter or a religious foundation.
- In German, the word Feder means both 'feather' and 'nib', reflecting the historical use of actual bird feathers to write.
- The term Federhalter literally translates to 'feather holder', highlighting the tool's history of holding a quill.
Examples in context
- Das ist ein Kuli.This is a pen.This sentence is useful for identifying a pen using the colloquial term Kuli.Tatoeba #1792492 by Pfirsichbaeumchen, translation #55842 by CK
- Wo ist ein Stift?Where is a pen?This sentence is useful for asking for the location of a pen using the generic term Stift.Tatoeba #8871122 by wolfgangth, translation #6749960 by swolesuki
- Gib mir den Stift.Pass me the pen.This sentence is useful for requesting a specific pen using the generic term Stift.Tatoeba #458663 by al_ex_an_der, translation #33775 by CK
- Bitte geben Sie mir einen Kugelschreiber.Please give me a pen.
- Kann ich Ihren Füllfederhalter benutzen?May I use your fountain pen?
- Hast du einen Stift?Do you have a pen?
- Ich habe meinen Kuli vergessen.I forgot my pen.
- 196 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
At a desk in a shared office.
- LauraFelix, hast du einen Kugelschreiber für mich?Felix, do you have a pen for me?
- FelixJa, hier ist ein schwarzer Kugelschreiber.Yes, here is a black pen.
- LauraVielen Dank, er ist sehr leicht.Thank you very much, it is very light.
- FelixGerne, Laura.You're welcome, Laura.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “pen” translations and entries Kugelschreiber, Stift, Federhalter, Füllhalter, Feder, Kuli, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
