mail carrier
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mail carrier
A person whose job is to deliver letters and other mail items to homes and businesses. Nowadays, terms such as postman/postwoman or delivery person are also often used.
Der Briefträger brachte heute ein Paket für dich.
The mail carrier brought a package for you today.
'Briefträger' (mail carrier) is a compound noun made up of 'Brief' (letter) and 'Träger' (carrier). A 'Träger' is a person who carries something (from the verb 'tragen' (to carry)). So a Briefträger is literally a 'letter carrier.'
Früher mussten die Briefträger schwere Taschen voller Briefe tragen.
In the past, mail carriers had to carry heavy bags full of letters.
The ending '-träger' often refers to a person who carries or transports something. You also find it in other job titles such as 'Zeitungsträger' (newspaper carrier) or 'Gepäckträger' (porter/luggage carrier).
Der Zeitungsträger liefert die Zeitung immer sehr früh am Morgen.
The newspaper carrier always delivers the newspaper very early in the morning.
Common verbs used with 'Briefträger' (mail carrier) are 'kommen' (to come), 'bringen' (to bring), and 'zustellen' (to deliver). They describe this person's main activity.
Der Briefträger hat heute Morgen ein Einschreiben zugestellt.
The mail carrier delivered a registered letter this morning.
courier
'der Kurier' and 'der Briefträger' both bring deliveries to people or companies. A courier is usually responsible for urgent, direct, or special deliveries, such as documents or packages. A mail carrier regularly delivers ordinary mail on a fixed route. The words can be confused because both bring mail or packages. When it is about the daily delivery person in the neighborhood, 'Briefträger' is more natural. When the shipment is delivered quickly and directly, 'Kurier' fits better.
Am Morgen legt der Briefträger die Post in die Kästen der Nachbarn.
In the morning, the mail carrier puts the mail into the neighbors' mailboxes.
Für den wichtigen Vertrag haben wir extra einen Kurier bestellt.
For the important contract, we specifically ordered a courier.