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German Phrase

Ich sammle alte Briefmarken.

/ɪç ˈzam.lə ˈʔal.tə ˈbʁiːfˌmaʁ.kən/
Meaning"I collect old stamps."
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Meaning

This sentence means “I collect old stamps.” It expresses a personal hobby and can be used to introduce yourself or talk about what you do in your free time. The adjective ‘alte’ specifies that the stamps are not recent, adding a nuance of historical interest.

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When to use

Use this phrase when you’re describing a hobby, answering a question like “Was machst du gern?” (What do you like to do?), or when you meet fellow collectors. It works in both casual conversation and slightly more formal introductions.

✦Grammar Breakdown

IchsammlealteBriefmarken

1

Ich (personal pronoun)

First‑person singular subject pronoun; always capitalized in German.

2

sammeln (verb)

Regular verb; present‑tense 1st person singular ends in -e (ich sammle).

3

alte (adjective)

Weak declension with plural noun; ending -e because the noun is preceded by no article.

4

Briefmarken (noun)

Plural of die Briefmarke (stamp); feminine gender, plural ending -en.

🗨In Conversation

A

Was machst du in deiner Freizeit?

What do you do in your free time?

Ich sammle alte Briefmarken.

I collect old stamps.

B

✕Common Mistakes

  • Ich sammle ein alte Briefmarke.

    ‘Briefmarken’ is plural, so you cannot use the singular article ‘ein’.

  • Ich sammle alten Briefmarken.

    Without an article the adjective takes the weak ending -e, not -en.

  • Ich sammeln alte Briefmarken.

    The verb must be conjugated to match the subject ‘Ich’.

↔Alternatives

  • Ich habe eine Leidenschaft für alte Briefmarken.

    I have a passion for old stamps.

  • Ich interessiere mich für alte Briefmarken.

    I am interested in old stamps.

  • Ich sammle antike Briefmarken.

    I collect antique stamps.

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Cultural Tip

Philately (Briefmarkensammeln) is a popular hobby in Germany, with many clubs (Briefmarken‑Vereine) and annual stamp fairs such as the Internationale Briefmarkenmesse in Berlin. When talking about your collection, Germans often mention the country of origin or the era (e.g., „Preußen‑Briefmarken aus dem 19. Jahrhundert“). Using the word ‘alte’ signals that you value historical value over modern designs.