Private company

Langenscheidt

Logo: Unknown author Unknown author, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons3

German publisher

Langenscheidt (German pronunciation: ) is a German publishing company that specializes in language reference works. In addition to publishing monolingual dictionaries, Langenscheidt also publishes bilingual dictionaries and travel phrase-books. Langenscheidt has language-to-language dictionaries in many languages, including English, German, French, Spanish, Italian, Dutch, Swedish, Greek, Ancient Greek, Latin, Arabic, Chinese and Croatian, and in varying sizes, ranging from small travel pocket dictionaries to large desk sized ones.2 It was founded by Gustav Langenscheidt.1 Wikipedia text CC BY-SA 4.0

Last updated Oct 21, 2026.

Overview

1856Founded1

Langenscheidt (German pronunciation: [ˈlaŋənʃaɪt] ) is a German publishing company that specializes in language reference works. In addition to publishing monolingual dictionaries, Langenscheidt also publishes bilingual dictionaries and travel phrase-books.2

Corporate structure

Langenscheidt sits at the top of its group. 2 entities, 1 country on record. Switch between the flow chart and the network, and select any entity to see its details.

  • Langenscheidt Berlin

Built from subsidiaries, stakes and holdings from Wikidata (CC0); major holders from Schedules 13D and 13G. Each entity in the chart links to its source.

What it owns

What Langenscheidt reports owning in its annual reports to the SEC: buildings, land and equipment, real estate and locations, investments, intangible assets and inventory, at the end of its latest fiscal year and a year before.

Stakes and holdings (Wikidata)

Things Wikidata records the company as owning, with the share when stated.1

The story

Founded by Gustav Langenscheidt in 1856, in Berlin.1

The Langenscheidt Publishing Group was founded on 1 October 1856 by Gustav Langenscheidt, in response to other publishers' refusal to publish his self-study materials for learning French, which he subsequently published under the title „ Unterrichtsbriefe zur Erlernung der französischen Sprache“ ("Teaching letters for learning the French language"). These learning materials became very popular and were widely read so much so that even today, Langenscheidt can be considered the "Father of distance education". From 1867, Langenscheidt Publishing Group had its own printing press.

From 1869 Langenscheidt worked with Karl Sachs and Césaire Villatte on the Encyklopädisches französisch-deutsches und deutsch-französisches Wörterbuch ("Encyclopedic French-German and German-French dictionary") and published it in 1880. In 1874, Langenscheidt was awarded the title of professor.

In 1891, in close collaboration with Eduard Muret and Daniel Sanders, he started working on the English equivalent, the Encyklopädisches englisch-deutsches und deutsch-englisches Wörterbuch ("Encyclopedic English-German and German-English dictionary"). Langenscheidt did not live to see its publication; his son Carl, his successor, published it in 1901.

From before 1870 to 1970, Langenscheidt bilingual dictionaries were popular among language students and various schools.

In 2019, Langenscheidt was acquired by Klett, owner of the competing dictionary Pons.

From Wikipedia’s article on Langenscheidt, shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.4

Leadership

Who has led Langenscheidt, and when. Pick a name to see everywhere that person has worked.

Subsidiaries and ownership

Also owns

From Wikidata.1

Timeline

  1. 1856Founded Founded in Berlin1

Sources

The numbers on this page point here. Each one links to the record it came from.

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