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How to Say ‘May I write you an email?’ in German

Darf ich Ihnen eine E-Mail schreiben?

darf ikh EE-nen EYE-nuh EE-mail SHRY-ben

[darf ikh EE-nen EYE-nuh EE-mail SHRY-ben]

💬 Usage Tip: Ihnen means "to you" (formal), different from Sie "you". Use it after verbs like schreiben or schicken where something goes to the person.

Phrase Breakdown

Darf ich Ihnen

darf ikh EE-nen

May I ... you

'Darf ich' is a polite way to ask permission. 'Ihnen' means 'to you' in the formal form.

Example

Darf ich Ihnen helfen?

May I help you?

Words in this phrase

Darf

[darf]

may / am allowed to

A polite modal verb used to ask permission.

Example

Bevor ich nach der Unternehmenskultur frage, sage ich: Darf ich fragen?

Before I ask about company culture, I say: May I ask?

ich

[ikh]

The pronoun 'ich' in nominative form.

Example

Ich bin da.

I am here.

Ihnen

[EE-nen]

you (formal, dative)

The formal 'you' in the dative case, used in polite professional situations.

Example

Darf ich Ihnen eine Frage zur Kultur im Unternehmen stellen?

May I ask you a question about the culture in the company?

eine E-Mail schreiben?

EYE-nuh EE-mail SHRY-ben

write an email?

The infinitive 'schreiben' goes to the end after 'darf'.

Example

Kannst du eine E-Mail schreiben?

Can you write an email?

Words in this phrase

eine

[EYE-nuh]

a; an; one

Feminine form of the indefinite article, used before singular feminine nouns.

Example

Eine offene Kultur ist mir bei einem Unternehmen wichtig.

An open culture is important to me in a company.

E-Mail

[EE-mail]

An electronic message; feminine (die E-Mail).

Example

Ich habe deine E-Mail bekommen.

I got your email.

schreiben

[SHRY-ben]

write (down)

Verb 'to write'; with 'auf' it means to write down.

Example

Schreiben Sie Ihren Namen hier.

Write your name here.

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