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Is there an official rule on whether it’s die E-Mail or das E-Mail? I’ve heard people use both, although more commonly the female form.

äüö
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Cass
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1 Answers1

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According to the Duden, both feminine and neuter genders are possible. My personal experience is that indeed most people use die E-Mail in Germany; according to the comments, people tend to say das E-Mail in Austria and Switzerland. Note that the Duden lists the word as E-Mail, not Email (the latter being also a German word for enamel).

Hendrik Vogt
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    Yes, in fact I have not heard anyone actually using "das E-Mail". Might have to do with the fact that "Post" is female as well, which "E-Mail" translates into, and "das Email" would be the proper enamel gender, as you pointed out. – Katharina Nickel Aug 16 '11 at 13:23
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    I actually know a few people who say das E-Mail. (I also know someone who says die E-Post, which I like very much :-)) – Hendrik Vogt Aug 16 '11 at 13:28
  • @ Hendrik, thanks, good point about "E-Mail". – Cass Aug 16 '11 at 14:19
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    Personal experience: Our Austrian customers tend to say das E-Mail, just like das Cola. – OregonGhost Aug 16 '11 at 16:48
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    Der Brief, die Post, das Schreiben. Man suche es sich aus. Siehe auch die Diskussion Wonach richtet sich das Geschlecht eines Anglizismus? – user unknown Aug 16 '11 at 20:36
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    In Switzerland people tend to say "das E-Mail" instead of "die E-Mail". – Philippe Gerber Aug 18 '11 at 10:03
  • Can't talk about Austria or Switzerland, but all the geek communities in Germany that I've joined or visited are using "die E-Mail" or "die Mail". – Kage Sep 05 '11 at 21:09
  • In my experience, "die E-Mail" predominates in Germany, but "das E-Mail" in Austria and Switzerland – PhiS Jan 12 '12 at 19:30
  • E-Mail, die oder das Wortart: Substantiv, feminin oder Substantiv, Neutrum Synonyme zu E-Mail (EDV) E-Brief, E-Post, elektronische Post, elektronischer Brief, Mail Dieses Wort gehört zum Wortschatz des Zertifikats Deutsch. Uwe Keim: definitely not, "Die E-Mail-Nachricht" is a redundant tautology / pleonasm. user unknown: das Email ist das Synonym zu Emaille, nachschlagen bei Duden. Hendrik Vogt wrong answer! http://www.duden.de/rechtschreibung/E_Mail (wer lesen kann ist im Vorteil ;) –  Nov 04 '13 at 03:39
  • @guestpost Im Deutschen mag man tatsächlich meist E-Mail sagen, wo E-Mail-Nachricht richtiger wäre, aber es ist nun einmal so, dass „Mail“ „Post“ heißt und nicht „Brief“. – Carsten S Nov 04 '13 at 23:57