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.
decorative initial
A particularly large and often artistically decorated first letter at the beginning of a chapter or section in an old book or manuscript.
Die mittelalterliche Handschrift war mit prächtigen, goldenen Initialen verziert.
The medieval manuscript was decorated with magnificent golden 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.
initial letter
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.
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.
Bitte schreiben Sie den Anfangsbuchstaben Ihres Nachnamens in das Feld.
Please enter the first letter of your last name in the field.
