postage
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postage
The fee that must be paid to the postal service for transporting and delivering a mail item such as a letter or package.
Das Porto für einen Standardbrief innerhalb Deutschlands beträgt derzeit 85 Cent.
The postage for a standard letter within Germany is currently 85 cents.
'Das Porto' is the fee for sending something, meaning the amount of money. 'Die Briefmarke' (stamp) is the small sticker that proves you have paid the postage.
Ich brauche noch eine 85-Cent-Briefmarke, um das Porto zu bezahlen.
I still need an 85-cent stamp to pay the postage.
Common verbs used with 'Porto' are 'bezahlen' (to pay), 'kosten' (to cost), and 'betragen' (to amount to). To ask about the price, you say: 'Wie hoch ist das Porto?' (How much is the postage?).
Das Porto für dieses Paket beträgt 4,99 Euro.
The postage for this package is 4.99 euros.
The adjective 'portofrei' means that you do not have to pay postage. It is often used in online retail to advertise free shipping.
Ab einem Bestellwert von 50 Euro ist die Lieferung portofrei.
For orders over 50 euros, delivery is free of postage.
freight / cargo
'Porto' and 'Fracht' can both refer to money paid for transport. 'Porto' is used especially for postal items such as letters or small packages, meaning the money you pay to the postal service. 'Fracht' is more of a word for transporting goods, especially in trade or for larger deliveries; it can also mean the price for this transport. The words can be confused because both have to do with sending things and paying. In everyday language for letters, people almost always say 'Porto' (postage); for goods transported by truck, train, ship, or plane, they are more likely to say 'Fracht' (freight charge).
Für den Brief nach Österreich muss ich mehr Porto bezahlen.
I have to pay more postage for the letter to Austria.
Die Fracht für die schweren Maschinen ist teurer als geplant.
The freight charge for the heavy machines is more expensive than planned.