author
Konrad Duden
1829–1911
Best known as the force behind the dictionary that still bears his name, he helped bring order to German spelling at a time when usage varied widely. A teacher by training, he turned practical language questions into a lasting reference work.
1 Audiobook
About the author
Born in Lackhausen near Wesel on January 3, 1829, Konrad Duden studied at the University of Bonn and went on to work as a teacher and school administrator. He built his reputation not just as a scholar of language, but as an educator interested in making written German clearer and more consistent.
His most lasting achievement was the Vollständiges Orthographisches Wörterbuch der deutschen Sprache, first published in 1880. That dictionary laid the groundwork for standardized German spelling, and the name Duden became synonymous with authoritative guidance on German usage.
Duden died on August 1, 1911, in Sonnenberg near Wiesbaden. More than a century later, his name remains closely tied to the way German is written, taught, and checked every day.