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letter
A single written character of an alphabet that represents a sound or combination of sounds.
Das deutsche Alphabet hat 26 Buchstaben sowie die Umlaute und das ß.
The German alphabet has 26 letters as well as the umlauts and ß.
The word is made up of 'Buch' (book) and 'Stab' (staff, stick). Historically, written characters (runes) were carved into rods made of beechwood, hence the name 'Buchstabe' (letter).
Der Name beginnt mit dem Buchstaben M.
The name begins with the letter M.
'Der Buchstabe' (letter) belongs to the N-declension. This means it takes the ending '-n' in all cases except the nominative singular.
Ich kann den letzten Buchstaben des Wortes nicht lesen.
I can't read the last letter of the word.
Common and useful combinations are 'ein großer Buchstabe' (a capital letter) and 'ein kleiner Buchstabe' (a lowercase letter).
Bitte schreiben Sie Ihren Namen in großen Buchstaben.
Please write your name in capital letters.
The expression 'nach dem Buchstaben' (to the letter) is used almost only in connection with rules or laws. It expresses a very strict, literal interpretation.
Der Beamte handelte streng nach dem Buchstaben der Vorschrift.
The official acted strictly according to the letter of the regulation.
meaning / sense
'der Sinn' and 'der Buchstabe' form a contrast in the expression 'nach dem Buchstaben des Gesetzes' (to the letter of the law). Here, 'Sinn' means the intention or purpose of a rule. 'Buchstabe' does not simply mean an individual letter like A or B, but the very exact wording of a rule. Learners may confuse this because 'Buchstabe' normally means a written character. But with rules and laws, the question is often: Is someone only following the words, or do they also understand the meaning behind them?
Der Beamte entschied streng nach dem Buchstaben des Gesetzes.
The official decided strictly according to the letter of the law.
Beim Lernen hilft es, den Sinn einer Regel zu verstehen, nicht nur die Wörter auswendig zu lernen.
When learning, it helps to understand the purpose of a rule, not just memorize the words.