initial
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initial
The first letter of a name or word. The plural ('die Initialen') is often used for the first letters of a person's first and last name.
Er unterschrieb das Dokument nur mit seinen Initialen.
He signed the document only with his initials.
You can recognize the meaning from the context: if people are talking about names, signatures, or a person's abbreviations, the first letters are meant. If the topic is old books, art, or decorated letters at the beginning of chapters, the decorative initial is meant.
Auf dem Handtuch waren seine Initialen eingestickt.
His initials were embroidered on the towel.
When referring to a person's first letters, the plural 'die Initialen' (the initials) is almost always used, because it refers to at least two letters: first name and last name.
Bitte tragen Sie Ihre Initialen in die Liste ein.
Please enter your initials in the list.
Common verbs in this meaning are 'mit den Initialen unterschreiben' (to sign with one's initials), 'seine Initialen eingravieren' (to engrave one's initials), or 'etwas mit Initialen versehen' (to put initials on something).
Er hat den neuen Füller mit seinen Initialen gravieren lassen.
He had the new fountain pen engraved with his initials.
When the decorative letter is meant, it is often described with adjectives such as 'verziert' (decorated), 'kunstvoll' (artistic), 'prächtig' (magnificent), or 'golden' (golden).
Jedes Kapitel begann mit einer kunstvollen, roten Initiale.
Each chapter began with an artistic red initial.
shortcut / abbreviation
'die Abkürzung' and 'die Initiale' both have to do with short forms in writing. An 'Abkürzung' is a shortened form of a word or group of words, for example 'z. B.' for 'zum Beispiel' (for example). An 'Initiale' is only the first letter of a name or word, often in first and last names. Learners may confuse the words because initials can sometimes look like an abbreviation. In practice: if it is about a short written form for a whole word, 'Abkürzung' fits. If it is only about the first letter, 'Initiale' fits.
Auf dem Formular soll er nur die Initialen seines Namens eintragen.
On the form, he is supposed to enter only the initials of his name.
Im Text steht die Abkürzung „Tel.“ für „Telefon“.
In the text, the abbreviation 'Tel.' stands for 'Telefon' (telephone).