buchstabieren
/ˌbuːx.ʃtaˈbiː.rən/
To spell in German is buchstabieren. Wiktionary also lists schreiben.
Meaning: to write or say the letters that form a word (verb)
Ways to say it
| German | IPA |
|---|---|
| schreiben | /ˈʃraɪ̯bən/ |
| buchstabieren | /ˌbuːx.ʃtaˈbiː.rən/ |
The verb buchstabieren is used when you are naming or writing the individual letters that form a word. In educational settings, the term Rechtschreiben is used to refer specifically to the correct spelling of words.
What does it mean word for word?
The verb buchstabieren is derived from the noun Buchstabe, which means 'letter'.
Which one should you use?
While schreiben means to write a word or a text, buchstabieren specifically refers to the act of naming the individual letters.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The third-person singular present form is buchstabiert, and the simple past form is buchstabierte.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˌbuːx.ʃtaˈbiː.rən/. The word has four syllables and the stress is on the third syllable.
Did you know?
- The word Buchstabe meaning 'letter' comes from Buch meaning 'book' and Stab meaning 'staff' or 'stick'. This refers to the ancient practice of carving letters into wood or stone using a pointed stick.
- In Germany, if you need to spell a word over the phone, you do not use a phonetic alphabet like 'Alpha' or 'Bravo'. Instead, people use ' bumpers' like A wie Anton or B wie Berta.
- The suffix '-ieren' in buchstabieren is a hallmark of many German verbs borrowed from Latin or French, such as 'studieren' or 'telefonieren'.
Examples in context
- Kannst du es buchstabieren?Can you spell it?This sentence is useful for asking someone to spell a specific thing using buchstabieren.Tatoeba #3006093 by al_ex_an_der, translation #3006110 by patgfisher
- Kannst du mir das buchstabieren?Can you spell that for me?This sentence is useful for asking someone to spell something for you using buchstabieren.Tatoeba #12186435 by Pfirsichbaeumchen, translation #11985554 by sundown
- Kannst du das bitte buchstabieren?Could you spell that, please?This sentence is useful for making a polite request to spell something using buchstabieren.Tatoeba #9966438 by Pfirsichbaeumchen, translation #9988709 by sundown
- Bitte buchstabieren Sie Ihren Namen langsam.Please spell your name slowly.
- Das Wort "Schokolade" – S wie S-Bahn, C wie Charlie, H wie Heinrich…The word "Schokolade" – S like S-Bahn, C like Charlie, H like Heinrich…
- Kannst du den Satz "I mog di" moi buchstabn?Can you spell the sentence "I mog di" for me?
- 24 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Maximilian is asking Laura for her last name.
- MaximilianWie ist dein Nachname, Laura?What is your last name, Laura?
- LauraMein Name ist Schneider.My name is Schneider.
- MaximilianKönnen Sie das bitte buchstabieren?Could you please spell that?
- LauraKlar, S-C-H-N-E-I-D-E-R.Sure, S-C-H-N-E-I-D-E-R.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “spell” translations and entries schreiben, buchstabieren, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
