Hello Everyone! I am a writer who is penpaling to somebody in Germany, and I was curious if there’s a proper/acceptable way to pull off the letter ß using an English typewriter keyboard. In the image attached I have gone about this a few different ways.
- Blumenstra(l+3)e (layering lowercase l and 3)
- Blumenstrasse (just phonetically spelling ß)
- BlumenstraBe (suspect uppercase b)
- Blumenstraße (just writing in the letter)
- Blumenstr. (Typical street abbreviation)
To anybody who has experience with receiving mail or even working in the postal service in Germany, is there a preferred or banned way of doing this? Just curious!
Thanks 🙏🏼
https://i.redd.it/qq6v2xyb4slg1.jpeg
Posted by Vibeuel_
45 Comments
Simply write the abbreviation: Blumenstr..
ss or ß works
2., 4. and 5. is correct.
use double S
in switzerland its not even a workaround, there is no ß there
5. The abbreviation is well understood and the post code works to direct your letter.
Any of these will most likely work, but the double s or the abbreviation is probably your best bet
Everything should be fine, especially since you’re also providing the postal code. I think postal workers have much more trouble with handwritten documents
2, 4, and 5 are all fine, 2 being the old variant, though, and 4 the modern one. 5 might be the most widely used option.
2, 4 and 5 would work
To be honest. 1 and 3 would probably work, too; but I wouldn’t risk it.
Blumenstrasse if you don’t want to use the abbreviation
I would just use the double s
All of these will be delivered without a problem.you should use the handwritten ß, ss or the abbreviation though.
Uppet case B just looks weird. I know people use it because it has a similar shape but that’s just wrong.
If you can’t use a ß, you can always replace it with ss. You also do that when writing in all caps as there is no uppet case ß.
If you are on a computet instead of a typrwriter, on windows alt+225 might work.
Probably all of these would work to get the where it‘s supposed to go
Would recommend 5.
Number 2 or number 5
2, 4, 5 Work.
2 is a workaround and not preferable.
4 is the correct way
5 is the abbreviation and the preferred way for writing street names.
So use 5
All of these will work. You can probably quite severely misspell something and the Post will still try to deliver it if they can uniquely identify the receiver with the other information on the letter.
2 or 5
Looking forward to your letter!
Hand written works so I’m fairly certain all of these would work.
U can go ß or ss instead
Double S.
As an antifacist it‘s the _only_ acceptable ss.
Es würde wahrscheinlich alles ankommen.
„Blumenstr.“ Ist das Übliche.
Liebe Grüße aus Deutschland
Any one will work. I got a letter two weeks ago addressed to BlumenstraBe. My mother addresses letters to Blumenstraβe, my aunt writes Blumens Ave.
I guarantee with most people’s pigeon scratch handwriting, Deutsche Post has seen and figured out much worse than one character.
ss instead of ß and ae/oe/ue instead of ä/ö/ü would be standard. just using the abbreviation is totally fine, too. all the other options are technically wrong but your letter would arrive anyway
“Blumenstrasse” is the correct one, but you can also write “Blumenstr.” as an abbreviation.
On a Windows PC ß is Alt+233 – on a Mac, it’s the “cauliflower key”+s – on a typewriter, don’t bother and write “Blumenstr.”
4 and 5 are correct, 5 is how we actually do it. But all of them would arrive.
Or with “ss” instead
This looks like a poem
NEVER, NEVER, NEVER replace it with B.
Okay, you don’t have a German keyboard. Fair enough. You can write “Blumenstrasse”, or just write “Blumenstr.”, which is just as good.
Double s. Exp. Strasse is perfectly understandable
Fun fact: the letter ß happened on old type settings when s and z (the old German writing style) were to close to getter.
Occasionally you see something like Strasze.
For this specific case you can use the abbreviation. Generally, it is common practice to replace the ß with an ss, if the ß is not available.
(Btw, you can replace an Umlaut by using the base letter + e, eg. ö = oe, Ä = Ae, etc.)
2,4 or 5 are fine.
2,4 or 5 is correct, but the others will arrive too.
You also could write sz. I’d just go with Blumenstr.
Just write double s.
FYI Switzerland abolished the ß long ago.
It’s actually Blumenstrauss 💐
– Blumenstraße
– Blumenstrasse
– Blumenstr.
These 3 variants are the common one and recognised by the Post
As someone whose name contains a ß, just use ss. It’s no bother and everyone understands it.
ss
ss is the official spelling when no ß is available.
This was also correct when writing BLUMENSTRASSE, the capital ß was introduced some years ago … but uncommon
The name of ß spoken is „sz” and the ß is a compostion (Ligatur) of s and z in old german font looking more like fz …
You can still see it on todays street signs in Berlin
https://share.google/dxusXxIU3v9tfJDny
2 or 5 are correct or hand write the whole thing
I‘d say `Blumenstraße`
Honestly probably all of them would work
I would go with option 2 or 5 tho