Schreiben
/ˈʃʁaɪ̯bm̩/neuter
The English phrase "writing" translates to German as Schreiben. Wiktionary also lists Schrift.
Meaning: process of representing a language (noun)
Ways to say it
| German | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Schreiben | /ˈʃʁaɪ̯bm̩/ /ˈʃʁaɪ̯bən/ |
neuter |
| Schrift | /ʃʁɪft/ | feminine, idiomatic |
Schreiben refers to the activity or process of writing.
Which one should you use?
Schreiben refers to the act or process of writing, whereas Schrift refers to the physical script, handwriting or a specific font or typeface. Use Schrift when discussing the visual appearance of written characters or a specific style of lettering.
How does it change in a sentence?
When used as a gerund (the act of writing), the word Schreiben is a neuter noun and is always capitalized.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈʃʁaɪ̯bm̩/
Did you know?
- The word Schrift can refer to a 'shrift' or a confession in a religious context, linking the act of writing to a formal record of sins.
- The word Schreiben can also refer to a formal written document or a letter in certain administrative contexts.
- The German word for 'writing' shares a common ancestor with the Latin scrībō, which is also the root of the English word 'scribe'.
Examples in context
- Fang an zu schreiben.Start writing.Tatoeba #3748784 by Esperantostern, translation #2111519 by CK
- Ich bin am Schreiben.I'm writing.Tatoeba #11660458 by Vortarulo, translation #11165332 by CK
- Tom kann gut schreiben.Tom is good at writing.Tatoeba #2695839 by Pfirsichbaeumchen, translation #4198394 by CK
- Ich liebe das Schreiben von Geschichten.I love writing stories.
- Sie hat ein Buch über das Schreiben von Gedichten veröffentlicht.She published a book about writing poems.
- Er hat einen gut verfassten Artikel über das politische Klima geschrieben.He wrote a well-composed article about the political climate.
- Ich schreibe gerne Tagebuch.I enjoy writing a diary.
- Schreibst du noch SMS oder nutzt du bereits Messenger-Apps?Do you still write text messages or do you already use messenger apps?
- Ich muss noch schnell eine E-Mail tippen.I need to quickly type an email.
- Sie tippt gerne Nachrichten auf ihrem Smartphone.She enjoys typing messages on her smartphone.
- 178 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Two colleagues are discussing their creative hobbies in a break room.
- SarahLiebst du das Schreiben?Do you love writing?
- MaximilianJa, das Schreiben ist mein größtes Hobby.Yes, writing is my biggest hobby.
- SarahSchreibst du jeden Tag?Do you write every day?
- MaximilianMeistens ja, es macht viel Spaß.Mostly yes, it is a lot of fun.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “writing” translations and entries Schreiben, Schrift, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries Schrift, schreiben, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
