Kursiv

Kursiv is the German term for italic type, a slanted variant of a typeface used to distinguish specific elements in a text. It is commonly applied to emphasize words or phrases, to mark foreign or technical terms, and to set the titles of works or names within running text.

The origin of italic type dates to the early 16th century in Renaissance Italy. Printers such as Aldus Manutius and the type designer Francesco Griffo created an independent set of letterforms that were slanted and often featured distinctive shapes. The result was a separate typographic style, later simply called “italic” in many languages, including German as Kursiv. Over time, italic styles became a standard part of most type families.

In contemporary typography, Kursiv can be implemented as a true italic—where letterforms are purposefully redesigned beyond just being slanted—or as an oblique, which is a slant of the upright roman type without new letter shapes. Many font families include both options, with true italics offering more varied forms and ligatures.

Usage guidelines in German texts align with general typographic practice: kursiv is used for emphasis, to denote foreign words or phrases, for book or film titles, and for certain technical terms. Excessive use of Kursiv can hamper readability, so it is typically balanced with upright type. In digital contexts, language support and proper diacritics are important to preserve accuracy when using kursiv.