Briefe

Briefe is the plural of Brief in German, meaning letters. A Brief is a written message sent from one person to another, typically on paper and folded or sealed; common purposes include information exchange, requests, updates, or personal sentiment. Historically, letters were a primary form of long-distance communication and old forms often included salutations and valedictions such as Mit freundlichen Grüßen. The term Briefe is used in everyday language and also appears in titles of published collections of letters.

In literature, the word Briefe is associated with the epistolary form, where a narrative is presented through letters. This technique allows multiple voices and a sense of immediacy. Classic examples include Goethe's The Sorrows of Young Werther (Die Leiden des jungen Werthers), which is written as a sequence of letters by the protagonist, and other epistolary works. In German, Briefe may also refer to published correspondences such as scientific or political letters that illuminate historical contexts.

Modern usage has shifted with technological changes, but letters remain a significant conduit for personal communication and archival material. Handwritten and printed letters continue to be preserved in libraries and archives, and many collections have been digitized for research. The concept of Briefe thus covers everyday correspondence as well as historical documentations of individuals, institutions, and intellectual networks.