certificate / document
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certificate / document
An official written document that proves and confirms a legal matter, an achievement, or an event. Examples include birth certificates, certificates, or contracts.
Bei der Siegerehrung erhielt jeder Teilnehmer eine Urkunde.
At the award ceremony, each participant received a certificate.
The word consists of the prefix 'Ur-' and the word 'Kunde'. 'Ur-' means 'original' or 'initial', and 'Kunde' comes from 'künden' (to announce or make something known). So an Urkunde is literally an 'original document that attests to something'.
Die Historiker fanden eine Urkunde aus dem Mittelalter.
The historians found a document from the Middle Ages.
Certain verbs are often used with 'Urkunde', emphasizing its official character. Common ones are: 'eine Urkunde ausstellen' (to issue a certificate), 'eine Urkunde überreichen' (to present a certificate), or 'eine Urkunde erhalten' (to receive a certificate).
Das Amt stellt Ihnen nach der Prüfung eine Urkunde aus.
The office will issue you a certificate after the examination.
The word 'Urkunde' is often used as part of compound nouns that describe the exact type of document. Well-known examples are 'Geburtsurkunde' (birth certificate), 'Heiratsurkunde' (marriage certificate), or 'Siegerurkunde' (winner's certificate).
Für die Anmeldung benötigen Sie Ihre Geburtsurkunde.
For the registration, you need your birth certificate.
letter
'der Brief' and 'die Urkunde' can both be written and official. Most of the time, however, a 'Brief' is a message to someone. An 'Urkunde' is an official proof of something, for example a birth, an achievement, or a contract. The words can be confused because both involve paper and writing. The important difference is: a 'Brief' informs or communicates something, while an 'Urkunde' officially confirms something. For legal or administrative proof, 'Urkunde' is more natural.
Die Geburtsurkunde ist eine wichtige Urkunde für viele Anträge.
The birth certificate is an important document for many applications.
Vor dem Termin schrieb ich einen Brief an die Werkstatt.
Before the appointment, I wrote a letter to the repair shop.