East Prussia (Ostpreußen) Language and Handwriting

Germany

East Prussia, Germany Genealogy

East Prussia (Ostpreußen) Language and Handwriting

East Prussia (Ostpreussen) German Empire Genealogy Wiki Topics
Getting Started
Finding Town of Origin Finding Aids For German Records Research Strategies Record Finder
Major East Prussia (Ostpreussen) Record Types
Church Records Civil Registration
Reading the Records
German Word List Latin Word List French Word List	Handwriting Languages Feast Days Script Tutorial
Additional East Prussia (Ostpreussen) Record Types
Cemeteries Directories Military Records	Periodicals Onlne Genealogy Records Town Genealogies
East Prussia (Ostpreussen) Background
Gazetteers History Language and Handwriting	Maps Websites
Ethnicity
Mennonites
Local Research Resources
Archives & Libraries Societies FamilySearch Center
Germany Record Types
Cemeteries Church Records Civil Registration Court Records Emigration & Immigration Genealogy Displaced Persons Jewish Records Population Records	Manumission Naturalization & Citizenship Newspapers Obituaries Occupations Online Records Town Genealogies Probate Records Religious Records School Records
Germany Background
Biography Church Directories Church History Former German Areas Funerary Customs Cultural Areas	Handwriting Historical Geography Jurisdictions Letter Writing Guide Names Personal Nobility Websites

Reading the Records

German

• It's easier than you think! You do not have to be fluent in German to use these records, as there is only a limited vocabulary used in them. By learning a few key phrases, you will be able to read them adequately. Here are some resources for learning to read German records.

German Genealogical Word List

German Handwriting

• These video webinars will teach you to read German handwriting:

• Old German Script Part 1
• Old German Script Part 2
• Old German Script (German Church and Civil Records) Part 3

• Also online interactive slideshow lessons are available to help you learn to read these records:

• Reading German Handwritten Records Lesson 1: Kurrent Letters
• Reading German Handwritten Records Lesson 2: Making Words in Kurrent
• Reading German Handwritten Records Lesson 3: Reading Kurrent Documents. In this lesson, you will explore several types of German genealogical records, including birth, baptismal, marriage, and death records.
• German Script Tutorial

This converter will show you how any phrase or name might look in German script:

• Kurrentschrift Converter (enter German genealogical word, click on "convert", view your word in Kurrentschrift (Gothic handwriting)

Polish

Because part of East Prussia is now in Poland, these articles will help:

• Poland Letter Writing Guide
• Polish Word List
• Poland Language and Languages

Russian

Because part of East Prussia is now in Russia, these articles will help:

• Russian Letter Writing Guide
• Russian Genealogical Word List