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Why do some people write these differently? And does it mean "Please close the door" or "Please keep the door closed"?

3 Answers 3

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"Türe" is an old-fashioned variation, "Tür" is standard today (and usage of "Türe" is fading away progressively in my experience. I haven't seen it in a while now).

In both cases, the correct translation is "Please close the door". If you want to say "Please keep the door closed", it's "Bitte [lass/lassen Sie] die Tür(e) geschlossen".

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  • Why can it be "Bitte lass Sie.." if Sie here is formal you? Jun 13, 2017 at 8:21
  • The options divide by the slash are "lass" and "lassen Sie": "Bitte lass die Tür(e) geschlossen" or "Bitte lassen Sie die Tür(e) geschlossen".
    – IQV
    Jun 13, 2017 at 8:24
  • Yeah, sorry, I will clarify it.
    – Annatar
    Jun 13, 2017 at 8:32
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According to the Duden, "Tür" is the more common word, while "Türe" is rather regionally, espically in middle Germany.

It's meaning is "Please close the door." "Please keep the door closed" would be

Bitte Tür geschlossen halten.

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  • 1
    As a native speaker would not use Bitte Tür geschlossen halten, I prefer Bitte halten Sie die Tür geschlossen or Bitte die Tür geschlossen halten
    – Uwe
    Jun 13, 2017 at 21:06
  • @Uwe Ich hatte hier eher ein Schild mit dieser Aufschrift vor Augen, keine gesprochene Aussage. Sonst gebe ich dir Recht.
    – IQV
    Jun 14, 2017 at 5:29
  • "Tür zu!"? ;-) ........
    – alk
    Jun 14, 2017 at 18:34
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While in most regions we say die Tür the alternative from die Türe is used regionally.

This is a remnant from the Old High German turi in these regions.

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