der Anfangsbuchstabe
initial letter
The first letter of a word, a name, or a sentence.
EXAMPLE
Der Anfangsbuchstabe von „Apfel“ ist „A“.
The initial letter of 'Apfel' (apple) is 'A'.
der Anfangsbuchstabe
initial letter
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Meanings
Usage tips
Compound word
The word is a clear compound of 'Anfang' (beginning) and 'Buchstabe' (letter). The 's' in the middle is a linking -s that connects the two words. The meaning is literal: the letter at the beginning.
EXAMPLE
Nomen erkennt man oft daran, dass ihr Anfangsbuchstabe großgeschrieben wird.
Nouns can often be recognized by the fact that their initial letter is capitalized.
Typical collocations
Common verbs used with 'Anfangsbuchstabe' (initial letter) are 'großschreiben' (to capitalize) or 'kleinschreiben' (to write in lowercase). It is also often used in contexts like 'nach dem Anfangsbuchstaben sortieren' (to sort by initial letter).
EXAMPLE
Bitte sortieren Sie die Liste der Teilnehmer nach dem Anfangsbuchstaben des Nachnamens.
Please sort the list of participants by the initial letter of their last name.
Usage pattern
To say what the letter is the first letter of, you usually use the structure 'der Anfangsbuchstabe von' (the initial letter of) followed by a noun in the dative.
EXAMPLE
Was ist der Anfangsbuchstabe von deinem Vornamen?
What is the initial letter of your first name?
Compare with
Anfangsbuchstabe vs Initiale
initial
Initialе and Anfangsbuchstabe can both refer to the first letter of a name or word. Anfangsbuchstabe is the direct, general term; Initiale often sounds more specific and is used especially in the plural for the first letters of a first and last name.
Anfangsbuchstabe
Bitte schreiben Sie den Anfangsbuchstaben Ihres Nachnamens in das Feld.
Please enter the first letter of your last name in the field.
Initiale
Bitte schreiben Sie die Initialen Ihres Vor- und Nachnamens in das Feld.
Please enter the initials of your first and last name in the field.
In real life
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