folder / portfolio
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folder
A cover or folder, often made of cardboard, plastic, or leather, used for collecting, storing, and transporting loose sheets, documents, or drawings.
Bitte legen Sie alle wichtigen Unterlagen in die blaue Mappe auf dem Schreibtisch.
Please put all the important documents in the blue folder on the desk.
portfolio
A collection of selected works, especially by artists, designers, or architects, used to present their skills and work.
Für die Bewerbung an der Kunsthochschule musste sie eine Mappe mit ihren besten Zeichnungen einreichen.
For her application to the art college, she had to submit a portfolio with her best drawings.
'Die Mappe' is a false friend. It does not mean 'map' (Landkarte), but rather 'folder' or 'portfolio'. The German word for 'map' is 'die Landkarte'.
Ich habe alle Dokumente für das Meeting in meiner Mappe.
I have all the documents for the meeting in my folder.
The context makes the difference: if people are talking about 'Unterlagen' (documents), 'Dokumenten' (documents), or 'Schule' (school), it usually means a simple folder. If it is about 'Bewerbung' (application), 'Kunst' (art), or 'Design' (design), it means a collection of works, that is, a portfolio.
Der Schüler hat seine Hausaufgaben in der Mappe vergessen.
The student forgot his homework in the folder.
When 'Mappe' means a folder for documents, it is often used with verbs such as 'etwas in eine Mappe legen' (to put something in a folder), 'eine Mappe anlegen' (to create a folder), or 'Unterlagen aus der Mappe nehmen' (to take documents out of the folder).
Für jeden neuen Kunden legen wir eine eigene Mappe an.
We create a separate folder for each new client.
As a portfolio, 'Mappe' is often combined with verbs such as 'eine Mappe zusammenstellen' (to put together a portfolio), 'eine Mappe erstellen' (to create a portfolio), or 'seine Mappe einreichen' (to submit one's portfolio).
Für die Bewerbung als Fotografin muss ich noch meine Mappe zusammenstellen.
For my application as a photographer, I still have to put together my portfolio.
folder / binder / steward
Both words refer to a cover or folder for documents. An Ordner typically has a clip or ring mechanism for punched sheets, whereas a Mappe usually holds and transports loose sheets without such a mechanism. Use “Ordner” for filing and “Mappe” for loose documents.
Die losen Unterlagen liegen zum Transport in der Mappe.
The loose documents are in the folder for transport.
Die gelochten Unterlagen liegen ordentlich im Ordner.
The punched documents are neatly filed in the binder.
