Letter Explained
English
← All guides

Writing a letter again

Last updated: October 2026

Most mail brings worries. This letter doesn’t. When you think of someone you’re fond of and haven’t spoken to in a long time, write to them. Not because you have to. Because you can.

Sample letter

Lena (Muster)
Liebe Sofie
Ein Dienstagabend im NovemberKein Aktenzeichen, versprochen

Ich musste gerade an dich denken

neulich habe ich ein Lied gehört, das wir früher im Auto viel zu laut gehört haben. Ich musste lachen und habe mich gefragt: Wie geht es dir eigentlich?

Bei mir ist viel passiert, aber nichts, was nicht bei einem Kaffee Platz hätte. Schreib mir, wenn du magst. Oder ruf an. Oder schick einfach eine Postkarte zurück.

Deine Lena

Made‑up sender, made‑up names. The letter often looks like this or similar.

What does the letter mean?

A personal letter is the opposite of official mail: it wants nothing from you, no deadline, no payment, no form.

It doesn’t have to be long. Three sentences are enough if they’re honest.

Most people are happier about it than you’d think. Whoever gets a letter like this feels remembered.

Deadlines

  • There is no deadline. That’s the nice thing about it.
  • Only your own hesitation holds you back: the longer you wait, the higher the hurdle gets. Write today, not “someday”.

What you can do

  1. Think of a person you like to look back on.
  2. Take paper and a pen. Yes, really, by hand.
  3. Write what you remember and why you’re thinking of them right now.
  4. Don’t write anything that sounds like duty. An invitation to reply is enough.
  5. Address on, stamp on, into the mailbox. Done.

How Letter Explained helps you

You don’t need the app for this letter. It’s there for the other mail, the kind you’re stuck with: take a photo, and the app explains what it says and what you can do.

More about the app

This guide does not replace legal advice. Every letter is different: deadlines and amounts apply as they are written in your letter. If you have questions, an advice centre can help. The rules and offices mentioned apply to Germany.

All guides