post office
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post office
A public building or postal service office where you can mail letters and packages, buy stamps, and use other postal services. Today the term 'Postfiliale' (post office branch) is often used.
Ich muss noch schnell zum Postamt, um das Paket für meine Tante aufzugeben.
I still have to quickly go to the post office to send the package for my aunt.
'Postamt' (post office) is a compound of 'Post' (post/mail) and 'Amt' (office/authority). The word 'Amt' here means a public authority or service office.
Früher gab es in jedem Dorf ein eigenes Postamt.
In the past, every village had its own post office.
The word 'Postamt' (post office) is used less often today and often sounds somewhat old-fashioned. It usually referred to large, state-run postal buildings. In everyday language, people today more often speak of a 'Postfiliale' (post office branch).
Das alte Postamt in der Stadtmitte ist heute ein Museum.
The old post office in the city center is now a museum.
To express movement, you say 'zum Postamt gehen' (to go to the post office). To describe a place where you are located, you use 'auf dem Postamt' or 'im Postamt' (at/in the post office).
Kannst du auf dem Weg nach Hause kurz zum Postamt fahren?
Can you quickly drive to the post office on your way home?
mail / post office
'die Post' and 'das Postamt' can both mean the place where you mail letters and packages or buy stamps. In this use, they are very similar. 'die Post' is especially common and short in everyday language. 'das Postamt' is more precise and explicitly means the service office or building. Today you also often hear 'Postfiliale' (post office branch). If someone says 'Ich gehe zur Post' (I'm going to the post office), they usually mean exactly this place.
Heute schließt das Postamt schon um zwölf Uhr.
Today the post office closes at twelve o'clock.
Vor der Reise gehe ich noch schnell zur Post und gebe das Paket ab.
Before the trip, I'll quickly go to the post office and send the package.