The main Germany abbreviation is DE, the two letter international country code, drawn from Deutschland, which is what Germans call their own country. The longer three letter code is DEU, and in sports results you will usually see GER. In ordinary English writing, the short form is Ger. with a period.
Which one is right depends on where it goes. A shipping form or a website menu wants DE, a passport style form may want DEU, a medal table uses GER, and a footnote in a book might use Ger. The sections below sort them out so you can pick the one the form or reader expects.
Quick facts
Two letter code
DE (from Deutschland)Three letter code
DEUSports code
GERIn running text
Ger., with a periodCar sticker
DPhone code
+49Not to be confused with
DE is also Delaware's postal code
The Germany abbreviation in each system
| Short form | System | Where you see it |
|---|---|---|
| DE | Two letter international code | Shipping labels, online forms, web addresses, language menus |
| DEU | Three letter international code | Passports, ID cards, data files, some customs forms |
| GER | Sports code | Medal tables, team lists, scoreboards |
| D | International vehicle sign | Oval sticker or plate band on cars |
| Ger. | Traditional abbreviation | Footnotes, dictionaries, tight tables in print |
All of these name the same country. They just follow different rule books, and each rule book was written for a different job.
Why DE and not GE?
The international codes are built from a country's own name, not its English name. Germans call their country Deutschland, so the two letter code is DE and the three letter one is DEU. That trips up many English speakers, who expect a G.
The full official name is the Federal Republic of Germany, or Bundesrepublik Deutschland in German. Older English texts often shorten that to FRG. Before reunification in 1990, the country was split, and the eastern state was the German Democratic Republic, shortened to GDR in English and DDR in German. You will see those letters in history books, not on current forms.
Abbreviation for Germany on forms and mail
On an online checkout page: the country menu lists "Germany (DE)." Picking it fills in DE behind the scenes, so the label and the customs data match.
When you mail a letter or package to Germany from the United States, write the full word GERMANY in capitals on the last line of the address. Postal workers read the country name, and a code alone can be misread. Inside data fields that ask for a code, use the exact format the field wants: two letters if it says ISO 2, three letters if it says ISO 3.
For travel, the airports also have their own codes, such as FRA for Frankfurt and MUC for Munich. Those name an airport, not the whole country.
The Germany acronym in sports and on cars
At international games and soccer tournaments, GER is the code you see next to a flag. It reads more naturally to English speaking fans than DEU, and sports bodies keep their own code lists. On the road, a white oval with a black D marks a car registered in Germany. Plates from the European Union usually show that D in a blue band on the left side.
Strictly speaking none of these is an acronym, since none is said as a word. They are codes and abbreviations. Why these count as codes rather than acronyms is covered in acronym vs abbreviation.
Mix ups to watch for
- DE vs DE: in a United States address, DE is the postal code for Delaware. If the city is Dover or Wilmington, it means the state.
- DE vs DK: DK is Denmark, Germany's northern neighbor. See the Denmark abbreviation page.
- GER vs GR: GR is the two letter code for Greece, not Germany.
- de as a language: in lowercase, de is the code for the German language, used in website settings and subtitles.
- EUR: the euro currency code, used in Germany and other countries.
Examples in sentences
- "Select DE from the country list to ship to Berlin."
- "The passport shows DEU as the nationality code."
- "GER finished second in the relay."
- "The footnote reads: Ger. ed., meaning the German edition."
- "I saw a car with a D sticker parked near the base."
For more country codes and how they line up, see the full list of country, city and airport codes, along with neighbors like France and Austria.
Questions people ask
What is the abbreviation for Germany?
The standard two letter code is DE and the three letter code is DEU. Sports results use GER, and English text may use Ger. with a period.
Why is Germany abbreviated DE?
The code comes from Deutschland, the German name for the country. International country codes are based on each country's own name.
Is GER or DEU correct?
Both are correct in their own setting. GER is the sports code, while DEU is the three letter code used on passports and in data.
What does FRG stand for?
FRG stands for Federal Republic of Germany, the country's official name in English. It is mostly seen in older or formal writing.
What is Germany's phone code?
The international dialing code for Germany is +49. You add it before the local number when calling from abroad.