How do you say Invitation in German?

Whether you’re throwing a birthday party, hosting a dinner, or planning a big event - if you want people to come, you send an Einladung. It’s the German word for invitation, and it’s all about connection, community, and making someone feel welcome.

The noun Einladung means invitation, and it’s one of the 1000 most frequently used nouns in German. You’ll encounter it in social settings, emails, event planning, and even official summons.

It’s a feminine noun, so we say die Einladung.

Pronunciation

Einladung is pronounced [ˈaɪ̯nˌlaːdʊŋ], roughly "INE-lah-dung."

• The “ein” rhymes with “mine,”
• The “la” is long and unstressed (the stress is on EIN),
• The “dung” has a short u as in “put” and ng as in “sing.”

It’s a warm, clear-sounding word - perfect for welcoming others.

Example sentences:

• Vielen Dank für die Einladung zur Party!Thanks so much for the invitation to the party!
• Ich habe die Einladung per E-Mail bekommen.I got the invitation by email.

Nuance and usage tips

Einladung comes from the verb einladen (to invite), and it’s used in all types of invitations:

1. Social - parties, dinners, weddings
   • Hochzeitseinladung - wedding invitation
   • Einladung zum Kaffee - invitation for coffee
2. Official - meetings, appointments, ceremonies
   • Einladung zum Vorstellungsgespräch - interview invitation
   • offizielle Einladung - formal invitation
3. Written or verbal
   • mündliche Einladung - spoken invitation
   • schriftliche Einladung - written invitation

eine Einladung annehmen / ablehnen - to accept / decline an invitation; eine Einladung absagen can also mean canceling the invitation or calling off the arrangement.