German Phrase
Was kostet's, diesen Brief zu verschicken?
Meaning
The sentence asks for the price of sending a specific letter. It is a polite, everyday way to inquire about postage costs, especially when you have a letter in hand and want to know how much the post office will charge.
When to use
Use this phrase at a post office, a shipping counter, or when asking a friend who is handling mail for you. It works in both formal and informal contexts, though the contraction 's' gives it a slightly casual tone.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Waskostet's,diesenBriefzuverschicken?
Was kostet ...?
The phrase 'Was kostet …?' asks for the price of something; 'kostet' is the 3rd person singular present of 'kosten'.
Contraction 's
's is a colloquial contraction of 'es' (it), often used after 'Was kostet' in spoken German.
Accusative case
'diesen Brief' uses the masculine accusative form 'diesen' because 'Brief' is the direct object of the infinitive phrase.
Infinitive with zu
The construction 'zu + infinitive' (zu verschicken) expresses purpose or intention, similar to 'to send' in English.
Comma usage
A comma separates the main clause from the infinitive clause when the infinitive clause is expanded with its own object.
🗨In Conversation
Was kostet's, diesen Brief zu verschicken?
How much does it cost to send this letter?
Das Porto beträgt 0,80 € für einen Standardbrief.
The postage is €0.80 for a standard letter.
✕Common Mistakes
Was kostet das, diesen Brief zu verschicken?
Using 'das' instead of the contraction 's' is grammatically correct but sounds overly formal for spoken German; the idiomatic spoken form is 'Was kostet's'.
Was kostet's diesen Brief zu verschicken?
A comma is required before the infinitive clause when it has its own object; omitting it is a punctuation error.
Was kostet's, diese Brief zu verschicken?
The accusative masculine article must be 'diesen', not 'diese', which is nominative/feminine.
↔Alternatives
Wie viel kostet es, diesen Brief zu verschicken?
How much does it cost to send this letter?
Was kostet das Verschicken dieses Briefes?
What is the cost of sending this letter?
Wie viel muss ich für den Versand dieses Briefes bezahlen?
How much do I have to pay to ship this letter?
Cultural Tip
In Germany, postage rates are set by Deutsche Post and are often quoted per weight class. When you ask for the price, the clerk will usually respond with the term 'Porto'. Using the contraction 'Was kostet's' is common in everyday speech, but in very formal settings (e.g., writing a formal email) you might prefer the full form 'Was kostet es'.