In parts I and II of this lesson, we talked about office supplies that are not specifically related to the ever-present digital devices in the workplace and at school. Let's take a look today, in the final installment of this topic, at some more German names for office items that may be new to you.

Das ist ein Umschlag und das ist die Briefmarke.

This is an envelope and this is the stamp.

Caption 22, Nicos Weg: Das hört sich gut an!

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You probably knew der Umschlag (or der Briefumschlag) and die Briefmarke already, although these days we use them far less frequently than in the stone age of the pre-digital era.

Die häng ich immer an so eine Pinnwand und dafür brauch ich eine Pinnnadel.

I always hang them on a pinboard like this one, and for that I need a push-pin.

Captions 57-58, Deutsch mit Eylin Dinge auf meinem Schreibtisch - Part 2

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Die Pinnnadel is one of those German words with three consonant letters in a row, although in this case, the spelling Pinn-Nadel is also grammatically acceptable. Eine Pinnnadel usually has a round or oblong plastic head, as opposed to its flat-headed cousin der Reißnagel (or die Reißzwecke), which is a thumbtack. The advantage of push-pins is that they are much easier to pull out of harder surfaces like wood than thumbtacks are.

O nein, das ist Lisas Mappe. Bringt Lisa die Mappe.

Oh no, that's Lisa's folder. Bring the folder to Lisa.

Captions 22-23, Nicos Weg: Mein Beruf

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Eine Mappe is usually a simple folder that can hold loose papers.

Auf Ihrem Arbeitsplatz werden Sie einen Ordner namens „Deutsche Werbung“ finden.

On your desktop, you'll find a folder with the name "German Advertising."

Caption 39, Berufsleben: das Vorstellungsgespräch

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So while both die Mappe and der Ordner are usually translated as "folder," eine Mappe usually means a large ring binder that most Germans use to store important paperwork such as tax documents. In Berlin, I've often noticed that non-Europeans tend to prefer filing cabinets or pouches, but somewhere in most German homes you will find a wall of bookshelves filled with Ordner. I'm doing my best to avoid an unfortunate pun on the unfortunate German cliché Ordnung muss sein. It's just not true, at least if you're creatively inclined.

Du siehst, ich liebe Büromaterial, und ich liebe es auch, Ordnung zu halten auf meinem Schreibtisch.

You see, I love office supplies, and I also love keeping order on my desk.

Captions 68-69, Deutsch mit Eylin: Dinge auf meinem Schreibtisch

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At least some people are capable of keeping their desk clean! The term der Schreibtisch is outdated for many of us, as we barely even write anymore, at least in the sense of taking a pen or pencil in hand. Another common German word for "office supplies" is der Bürobedarf, which is usually also what shops are called that sell them.

Further Learning
Review our other two newsletters about office supplies and test your knowledge of the German words for the vast array of articles that are commonly used in office situations. Then go to the videos above on Yabla German and see these words in the context in which they are used.

In Part I of this lesson, we talked about office supplies that are not specifically related to the ever-present digital devices in the workplace and at school. Let's take a look today at some more German names for office items that may be new to you.

Und ich habe auch noch jede Menge Filzstifte.

And I also have plenty of felt-tip pens.

Caption 63, Deutsch mit Eylin: Dinge auf meinem Schreibtisch

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So while you probably already knew der Kugelschreiber (ballpoint pen), hopefully der Filzstift is a new entry in your vocabulary!

Was ich auch sehr gern benutze, sind Leuchtstifte, um Textteile zu markieren.

What I also like to use are highlighters, to mark parts of text.

Captions 11-12, Deutsch mit Eylin: Dinge auf meinem Schreibtisch

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Der Leuchtstift makes sense for "highlighter," since the verb leuchten can mean "to give light," and the verb beleuchten means "to illuminate."

Aber wir sagen gerne Uhu, weil es der Kleber ist, den wir immer benutzt haben.

But we like to say "Uhu" because it's the glue that we've always used.

Captions 14-16, Deutsch mit Eylin: Dinge auf meinem Schreibtisch

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The brand name Uhu is so common in Germany that it is often used generically to mean many kinds of glue (der Kleber, also der Klebstoff). The literal translation of der Uhu is the Eurasian eagle owl, a species of owl (die Eule) that lives primarily in Eurasia. "Uhu" also sounds like the hooting sound an owl makes!

Was ich auch immer habe, ist ein Radiergummi.

What I also always have is an eraser.

Caption 31, Deutsch mit Eylin; Dinge auf meinem Schreibtisch

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Schoolchildren often use the slang word der Ratzefummel  for der Radiergummi, which originates from the slang verb ratzen ("to snore in your sleep") and the informal verb fummeln (to fumble). This makes a certain sense too, as you must have been fumbling around in your sleep to make a mistake you have to erase. Best to pay more attention when you're writing!

Du siehst, ich liebe Büromaterial, und ich liebe es auch, Ordnung zu halten auf meinem Schreibtisch.

You see, I love office supplies, and I also love keeping order on my desk.

Captions 68-69, Deutsch mit Eylin; Dinge auf meinem Schreibtisch

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Office supplies, also commonly called der Bürobedarf, are indeed very nice. But looking at the chaos on my desk, I'd say that Eylin and I have differing opinions on that topic!

Further Learning
Make a list of the English office supply words mentioned above, then see if you can translate them correctly into German, paying close attention to the nouns' genders. Then go to Yabla German and watch Eylin's video above to get a better overview of the words you just learned!