Wir beziehen uns auf Ihr Schreiben vom 15.
We refer to your letter of the 15th
Littéralement: We relate ourselves on your writing from the 15th
Use this to professionally link your reply to a specific previous message or document.
En 15 secondes
- Standard formal opening for German business letters and emails.
- Uses the reflexive verb 'sich beziehen auf' plus accusative case.
- Essential for referencing previous correspondence with banks or authorities.
Signification
This is the classic way to start a formal German letter or email. It tells the reader exactly which previous message or document you are responding to.
Exemples clés
3 sur 6Replying to a bank
Wir beziehen uns auf Ihr Schreiben vom 15. Oktober bezüglich der Kontogebühren.
We refer to your letter of October 15th regarding the account fees.
Applying for a job
Ich beziehe mich auf Ihre Anzeige im Internet vom 15. März.
I am referring to your advertisement on the internet from March 15th.
Texting a friend sarcastically
Ich beziehe mich auf deine Nachricht von gestern: Wo ist mein Geld?
I refer to your message from yesterday: Where is my money?
Contexte culturel
This phrase is a cornerstone of 'Beamtendeutsch' (Bureaucratic German). It reflects the German cultural emphasis on precision and the importance of written records in legal and professional life. Historically, referencing the exact date was crucial for tracking physical mail across different government departments.
The 'Ich' vs 'Wir' Rule
In German business, 'Wir' is often used even if you are the only one writing, as you represent the whole company. Use 'Ich' only for personal matters.
Don't forget the 'sich'!
It's a common mistake to say 'Ich beziehe auf...'. You must include 'mich' or 'uns'. It's reflexive!
En 15 secondes
- Standard formal opening for German business letters and emails.
- Uses the reflexive verb 'sich beziehen auf' plus accusative case.
- Essential for referencing previous correspondence with banks or authorities.
What It Means
This phrase is the bread and butter of German business communication. It functions like the 'Re:' line in an email. It tells the recipient, 'Hey, I’m answering that specific thing you sent me.' The verb beziehen literally means to cover or pull, but with the reflexive uns and the preposition auf, it means 'to refer to.' It’s all about creating a clear link between two pieces of correspondence. In a culture that values order, this is how you keep the paper trail clean.
How To Use It
You usually place this right at the start of your letter. After the greeting like Sehr geehrte Damen und Herren, this is your opening move. You need the preposition auf followed by the accusative case. If you are writing as an individual, you change Wir to Ich. Don't forget the sich—it’s a reflexive construction! So, it’s Ich beziehe mich... or Wir beziehen uns.... It’s like putting a digital bookmark in a conversation.
When To Use It
Use this whenever you are dealing with 'The System.' This includes banks, insurance companies, or the dreaded Finanzamt (tax office). It’s perfect for job applications when you want to mention a specific job ad. It’s also great for customer service. If your internet is down and you’re replying to their 'we are fixing it' email, start with this. It makes you sound organized, professional, and serious. It says you have your files in order.
When NOT To Use It
Never use this with your friends or family unless you are being extremely sarcastic. If you text your best friend, Ich beziehe mich auf deine WhatsApp von 14:00 Uhr, they will think you’ve been replaced by a robot. It’s too stiff for casual settings. Also, avoid it in very modern, 'cool' startups that prefer a 'Hey guys' vibe. There, a simple Danke für deine Mail works better. Using it there might make you look like you’re wearing a tuxedo to a beach party.
Cultural Background
Germans have a deep-seated respect for Bürokratie (bureaucracy). This phrase is a relic of the era of physical letters where every document had a date and a reference number. Even in the digital age, Germans love a good Aktenzeichen (file number). Using this phrase shows you respect the process. It’s a linguistic signal that you are playing by the rules of professional etiquette. It’s about being sachlich—objective and matter-of-fact.
Common Variations
If you want to sound even more like a high-level civil servant, try Bezugnehmend auf Ihr Schreiben. That’s the 'Final Boss' version of this phrase. For a slightly softer touch, you could say Vielen Dank für Ihr Schreiben vom 15.. If you’re talking about a phone call instead of a letter, swap Schreiben for Telefonat. You can also use E-Mail instead of Schreiben if you want to be more specific, though Schreiben covers almost any written communication.
Notes d'usage
This is a high-register formal expression. It is essential for B2-level learners to master for professional writing. Ensure you correctly match the reflexive pronoun to the subject.
The 'Ich' vs 'Wir' Rule
In German business, 'Wir' is often used even if you are the only one writing, as you represent the whole company. Use 'Ich' only for personal matters.
Don't forget the 'sich'!
It's a common mistake to say 'Ich beziehe auf...'. You must include 'mich' or 'uns'. It's reflexive!
The Magic of 'Schreiben'
In German, 'Schreiben' is a noun meaning 'piece of writing.' It sounds much more professional than 'Brief' (letter) or 'E-Mail' in formal contexts.
Exemples
6Wir beziehen uns auf Ihr Schreiben vom 15. Oktober bezüglich der Kontogebühren.
We refer to your letter of October 15th regarding the account fees.
Standard professional use for financial matters.
Ich beziehe mich auf Ihre Anzeige im Internet vom 15. März.
I am referring to your advertisement on the internet from March 15th.
A great way to start a cover letter.
Ich beziehe mich auf deine Nachricht von gestern: Wo ist mein Geld?
I refer to your message from yesterday: Where is my money?
Using formal language for a joke among friends.
Wir beziehen uns auf Ihr Schreiben vom 15. und lehnen die Forderung ab.
We refer to your letter of the 15th and reject the claim.
Firm and direct tone for a legal or commercial dispute.
Ich beziehe mich auf unser Gespräch vom 15. und bestätige den Termin.
I refer to our conversation of the 15th and confirm the appointment.
Swapping 'Schreiben' for 'Gespräch' to reference a talk.
Ich beziehe mich auf dein Schreiben vom 15. und möchte mich aufrichtig entschuldigen.
I refer to your letter of the 15th and would like to sincerely apologize.
Using the formal structure to show the weight of the apology.
Teste-toi
Fill in the missing reflexive pronoun for a formal business letter.
Wir beziehen ___ auf Ihr Schreiben vom 15.
Since the subject is 'Wir' (we), you must use the reflexive pronoun 'uns'.
Choose the correct preposition to complete the phrase.
Ich beziehe mich ___ Ihr Schreiben vom 15.
The verb 'sich beziehen' always takes the preposition 'auf' when referring to something.
🎉 Score : /2
Aides visuelles
Formality Spectrum of Correspondence Openings
Texting a friend
Wegen deiner Mail...
Standard office email
Danke für Ihre Nachricht.
Official business letter
Wir beziehen uns auf Ihr Schreiben...
Legal/Governmental
Bezugnehmend auf Ihr Schreiben...
Where to use 'Wir beziehen uns auf...'
Insurance Claim
Referring to a policy update
Job Application
Referring to a job posting
Bank Inquiry
Referring to a statement
University Admin
Referring to an admission letter
Questions fréquentes
10 questionsIt is short for 'vom 15. Tag des Monats' (from the 15th day of the month). Usually, the month follows, like vom 15. Mai.
Yes, it is very common in formal emails. It helps the recipient quickly identify which thread you are responding to.
No, Schreiben is a general term for any formal written communication, including emails, faxes, or official notices.
It always takes the accusative case. For example: auf Ihr Schreiben (neuter accusative).
Not at all. While it sounds formal, it is still the standard professional way to open a letter in Germany today.
No, that is grammatically incorrect. The verb sich beziehen strictly requires the preposition auf.
Bezugnehmend auf is a participle construction and is considered even more formal and slightly more 'old-school' than Wir beziehen uns auf.
Simply replace Schreiben with Telefonat. For example: Ich beziehe mich auf unser Telefonat vom 15. August.
Usually, this phrase is part of a larger sentence, so you continue with the main clause, e.g., ...und möchte Ihnen mitteilen, dass....
Only if you want to sound like a lawyer or a funny robot. For friends, use Wegen deiner Nachricht... instead.
Expressions liées
Bezugnehmend auf
With reference to (very formal)
In Beantwortung Ihrer E-Mail
In response to your email
Wie besprochen
As discussed
Anknüpfend an unser Gespräch
Following up on our conversation
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