Guide
Reading German Kurrent and Sütterlin letters
If a grandparent’s German letter looks like a row of identical strokes, you are probably looking at Kurrent or its school version, Sütterlin. They are hard even for German speakers today, but the letters follow patterns, and the formulas that open and close a letter give you a way in.
Why these scripts are hard
- Many letters are built from the same short strokes, so e, n, m, u and w look alike in fast writing.
- Words are written in one run, so the gaps between letters are hard to find.
- Capital letters look nothing like modern ones.
- Spelling and abbreviations differ from today’s German.
Start with the formulas
Letters open and close with set phrases. Once you know them, you have anchor words with known letter shapes, and the rest is easier to compare.
| You may see | It usually means |
|---|---|
| Liebe Eltern / Lieber Vater | Dear parents / Dear father |
| Mit herzlichen Grüßen | With warm greetings |
| Dein / Deine … | Yours (informal), followed by a first name |
| den 3. Mai | on the 3rd of May (the date line) |
| d. M. / v. M. / d. J. | this month / last month / this year |
Five steps to a transcription
- Collect everything you can read with confidence: the date, the greeting, the signature, place names and numbers.
- Put a Kurrent or Sütterlin alphabet beside the letter and start with a safe word such as “Liebe”.
- Apply the letters you are sure of across the page to build this writer’s own alphabet.
- Mark uncertain words instead of guessing, especially names and places.
- Check the result with family, an archive or a reader of the script.
The general method is in how to read an old handwritten letter. To work out when a letter was written, see how to date an old letter.
Honest limits
Faded ink, unusual hands and place names are the usual trouble spots, for people and software alike. Treat any reading of these scripts as a careful first draft, and confirm names, dates and places before you rely on them.
Questions
- What is the difference between Kurrent and Sütterlin?
- Kurrent is the older German handwriting used for centuries. Sütterlin is a simplified school form designed in the early twentieth century and taught in German schools for several decades. Many family letters from the first half of the twentieth century are in one or the other.
- Can Heirloom read Kurrent or Sütterlin?
- It will attempt German letters in these scripts, but they are among the hardest material there is. Expect more uncertain words, and consider confirming important passages with someone who reads the script.
- Should I transcribe or translate first?
- Transcribe first, in German, then translate. Our guide to translating old family letters explains why, and how to check the result.