beiliegend

Beiliegend is a German term used in formal writing to indicate that documents or items accompany another document or message. In letters and emails, it is commonly used to announce enclosures or attachments. In English this is best translated as “enclosed” or “attached.”

Etymology and function: Beiliegend is the present participle of the verb beiliegen, meaning to lie with or to accompany. It can function as an adjective (beiliegende Unterlagen) or as an adverbial introductory phrase (Beiliegend finden Sie...). It is related to, but distinct from, beigefügt or anbei, which are also used to indicate attachments but carry slightly different nuances in formality or emphasis.

Usage and examples: In formal correspondence one might write “Beiliegend finden Sie die Unterlagen zur Prüfung.” or “Die beiliegenden Unterlagen sind vertraulich.” It is commonly used in business letters, official documents, and invoices to signal enclosures, such as reports, contracts, or receipts.

Related terms: Beilage (enclosure or attachment), Beigefügt (attached), and anbei are closely related. In legal or administrative contexts, Beilagen refers to enclosures, appendices, or attachments. Style guides and regional practices may favor one form over another; in everyday language, anbei is often preferred in emails, while beiliegend remains standard in formal correspondence.