vermittels/mittels

By Means of (Vermittels/mittels)

Level 5

mittels and vermittels are formal prepositions used to describe the tool, method, or instrument used to achieve a result. They are primarily found in technical, legal, or academic writing.

How It Works

The prepositions mittels and vermittels function as instrumental markers. They answer the question 'How?' or 'By what means?'

1. Case Usage:

  • They primarily require the genitive case: mittels eines Schlüssels (by means of a key).
  • The Dative Exception: If the genitive is not clearly visible (common with plural nouns without articles or adjectives), the dative case is used instead to ensure the case is marked: mittels Werkzeugen (by means of tools).
  • Uninflected Singular: When a masculine or neuter singular noun stands alone without an article or adjective, it typically remains uninflected and does not take the genitive -s ending: mittels Hammer (instead of mittels Hammers).

2. Register and Nuance:

  • mittels: Technical and precise. Used for physical tools or specific systems (e.g., mittels Software).
  • vermittels: Highly formal, bureaucratic, or literary. It is rarely used in modern speech.
  • In everyday German, speakers prefer mit or durch.

3. Distinction from 'mithilfe':
While mithilfe (which can also be written as mit Hilfe) often implies human assistance or abstract support, mittels focuses on the mechanical or technical 'how' of an action. Note that mittels is always written as one word.

Examples (4)

  1. Mittels eines speziellen Scanners wurden die Dokumente digitalisiert.

    The documents were digitized by means of a special scanner.

    Word by Word: By-means-of a special scanner were the documents digitized.

    Here, 'mittels' is used with the genitive 'eines speziellen Scanners' to show the technical tool used.

  2. Die Tür wurde vermittels roher Gewalt aufgebrochen.

    The door was forced open by means of brute force.

    Word by Word: The door was by-means-of raw force broken-open.

    'Vermittels' adds a very formal, almost literary tone to the description of the method used.

  3. Er erreichte sein Ziel mittels jahrelanger harter Arbeit.

    He reached his goal through years of hard work.

    Word by Word: He reached his goal by-means-of year-long hard work.

    Even with abstract concepts like 'work', 'mittels' can be used in formal writing to indicate the method of achievement.

  4. Die Datenübertragung erfolgt mittels moderner Satellitentechnik.

    Data transmission takes place by means of modern satellite technology.

    Word by Word: The data-transmission occurs by-means-of modern satellite-technology.

    This is a classic example of 'Amtsdeutsch' (administrative/technical German) found in manuals or reports.

Common Mistakes

  • Using the dative case when a genitive article is present.

    Er öffnete das Schloss mittels einem Dietrich.
    Er öffnete das Schloss mittels eines Dietrichs.

    Because 'mittels' is a formal preposition, it strictly requires the genitive when an article makes the case visible. Using the dative with an article is considered a stylistic error in formal writing.

  • Using 'mittels' in casual conversation.

    Ich esse die Pizza mittels einer Gabel.
    Ich esse die Pizza mit einer Gabel.

    Using 'mittels' for everyday activities sounds stilted or unintentionally funny. Use 'mit' for daily life.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

vermittels/mittelsLevel 5By Means of (Vermittels/mittels)

Learn This First

To use 'vermittels' or 'mittels', you must be comfortable with the genitive case, including both the article changes and the specific endings added to masculine and neuter nouns. Since these are formal prepositions, familiarity with the general category of genitive prepositions is also essential.

Words in This Pattern

vermittelsmittels