Britannica AI Icon

Quick Summary

Fraktur is a style of black letter writing that originated in Germany. It is characterized by its distinctive, broken strokes, which give it a somewhat angular and Gothic appearance. While the term "Fraktur" primarily refers to this specific typeface style, it can also describe a Pennsylvania German document, such as a birth or wedding certificate, that is written in calligraphy and adorned with decorative elements like tulips, birds, and scrolls. The word "Fraktur" itself comes from the Latin word "fractura," meaning fracture.1

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
2 Britannica Sources
  1. Fraktur
  2. Fractur

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.