Schleswig-Holstein Language and Handwriting

Schleswig-Holstein, German Empire Topics
Getting Started
Finding Town of Origin Finding Aids For German Records Research Strategies Record Finder
Major Schleswig-Holstein Record Types
Census Church Records Civil Registration
Reading the Records
German Word List Latin Word List French Word List	Handwriting Languages Feast Days Script Tutorial
Additional Schleswig-Holstein Record Types
Biographies Directories Emigration and Immigration Newspapers Nobility Online Records	Periodicals Population Probate Records Schools Taxation Town Genealogies
Schleswig-Holstein Background
Gazetteers History Historical Geography Jurisdictions Language and Handwriting	Maps Naming Customs Occupations Social Life and Customs Timeline Websites
Ethnicity
German or Danish
Local Research Resources
Archives and Libraries Societies Family History Centers
Germany Record Types
Cemeteries Church Records Civil Registration Court Records Genealogy Jewish Records Land & Property Local Records	Manumission Military Records Naturalization & Citizenship Obituaries Online Records Town Genealogies Religious Records
Germany Background
Church Directories Funerary Customs Cultural Areas	Letter Writing Guide Names Personal Websites

Germany

Schleswig-Holstein

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Language and Handwriting

Reading the Records

• 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)

Latin Records

Records of the Catholic church will usually be written in Latin:

• Latin Genealogical Word List