Cross-brand communication
PONS Langenscheidt GmbH
Our mission:
'We're the bridge between languages, cultures and between traditional and digital education. We're helping the world understand each other better and achieve its educational goals.'
PONS Langenscheidt GmbH is home to three established brands that are united by one insight: Understanding broadens horizons.
The roots of our Langenscheidt brand date back to 1856. We started as PONS in 1978 with our green dictionaries. The satisfaction of our users is at the heart of our passionate pursuit of products of the highest quality. Today, we are a media company with over 80 employees, developing print products and digital services for translation and language learning in 40 different languages under the PONS and Langenscheidt brands.
With PONS and Langenscheidt, the leading brands for language understanding and language learning have been united under one roof since 2019. With more than 1,000 titles, as market leaders in language learning materials and dictionaries, the most extensive online dictionaries* and AI language tools, both brands prove that a successful language learning ecosystem is not a matter of book or digital: the combination of different approaches is the basis for successful learning. The further expansion of our digital offerings and services at home and abroad is therefore as much part of our strategic focus as new innovative print products.
This consistent customer focus is continued by our third brand: Klett Lerntraining. It points to our origins, the Klett Group. The extensive book program with many learning aids supports children and young people individually in all school subjects to close learning gaps and build strengths.
*Over 55% Market Share According to Media Control Metis Average in 2023; Over 7.5 Million Users/Month in 2023 According to IVW
The market leaders in the DACH field for ‘understanding languages’ and ‘learning languages’
More than 1,000 available products
Over 2,000,000 titles sold per year
Over 10,000,000 users per month
In line with the Klett Group, PONS Langenscheidt GmbH also stands for an open, democratic society and is firmly convinced that sustainable education is an essential component.
PONS - A language that connects.
PONS is one of the leading brands in the German-speaking world to understand and learn languages. Since 1978, we have been developing high-quality dictionaries and language learning materials for people learning and applying foreign languages.The name PONS - Latin for bridge - stands for what we've been doing for decades: connecting people through language.Through our digital and print products, we help our users successfully bridge to other countries and cultures.
For decades, our PONS green with the blue dotted PONS logo has stood for clarity, freshness, openness - that's also how we bring languages to our users.Learn languages creatively, understand and speak.And we ensure lifelong access to language!
PONS language materials also accompany learners to China or Romania, with numerous dictionaries, language courses, vocabulary, readings, etc. for over 30 languages and any application situation.And because everyone learns differently, PONS offers everything from classic dictionary and grammar to audio learning aids, to digital offerings such as our online dictionary, vocabulary trainer, text translation and customized translation services for companies and institutions.
47
years of dictionary knowledge
700
products
800000
titles sold per year
12000000
online users per month
Our history
From the first printed dictionary to online translations, from the west of Stuttgart to China, Brazil and India, from the first language learning material to 2.2 million sold copies of “at a glance”: PONS has achieved a lot over the years. This defines what we are. The PONS picture dictionary alone, from the revolutionary visual series, has been translated into 43 languages, including exotic languages such as Khmer, Dhivehi, Dzongkha, with the help of our international licensing partners. But where did the idea for the first dictionary come from? And how has PONS established itself both digitally and internationally? Come with us on a brief journey through the PONS history!
First English Dictionary published under the name Klett in Stuttgart.
Birth of the name PONS from an idea by Michael Klett. In the same year English and French dictionaries were published by Klett with the new name.
The first PONS license agreement is made with the American publishing house McGraw-Hill Companies for the PONS Taschenwörterbuch Deutsch-Englisch (PONS pocket dictionary German-English).
The language learning products „Super Plus“, that were first published under the name Klett, are now green! The Sprachenlernen (language learning) programme is systematically increased under the name PONS from 1995.
Birth of the Bestseller PONS Schülerwörterbuch (PONS student dictionary). This dictionary, that was specially developed for schools, has accompanied millions of students through their complete schooltime since its first publication.
The first digital PONS product goes on the market – the electronic pocket translator by Franklin.
Our first online dictionary PONSline goes live! PONS is the first publisher of dictionaries and language learning material to offer a free advert-free reference service at www.pons.de.
The first PONS online vocabulary trainer starts. It is also the first online vocabulary trainer in which words that have been looked up can be collected and practised.
The product series “auf einen Blick” (at a glance) starts: Who doesn’t know them? The laminated foldable A4 cards in the renowned turning stands. An amazing success, over 2.2 million have been sold to date.
Our free online dictionary goes live! With the PONS online dictionary, translations in 22 languages are now available at www.pons.com.
The “Sprachenlernen mal anders” (language learning with a difference) programme starts. PONS opens a new fun way to language learning with easy, unconventional formats such as Speak easy or INSTANT.
The “Visuelles Lernen” (visual learning) programme starts. To help those learners who are visual learners, successful picture dictionaries and grammar in pictures are now available.
In an asset deal, PONS Verlag acquires large parts of Langenscheidt Verlag as well as the trademark rights.
Go-live of the translator app with translations of complete texts and camera translator. Whether a menu or user instructions – just take a photo of it and it can be translated!
PONS GmbH is renamed PONS Langenscheidt GmbH.
German as a foreign language becomes an editorial focus.
The Schule Wörterbuch App (School Dictionary App) by PONS is offered to schools as a digital alternative.
Over 1.5 million. Downloads of our translator app.
Replacing the well-known PVC covers in favor of environmentally friendly hardcovers.
70% of books sold include a digital component.
Launch of the digital, ad-free translation subscription PONS Pur.
The „Mit allen Sinnen” (With All Senses) book series has had one of the most successful launches in decades.
In July, the technology startup Laniqo was founded together with an innovative team of founders and the Adam Mickiewicz University of Poznan. Laniqo develops AI-based technologies around language, education and communication, which are used in PON's products, among others.
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Launch of the digital translation subscription PONS Translate for professional translations.
The Scan2Learn App is introduced and enables easy digital accompaniment of book content.
The recognition value of our green
For years our PONS green with the blue-spotted PONS logo has stood for clarity, freshness and openness; that is how we want to bring languages closer to our users. Learning languages creatively, just understand and speak; that is how we ensure close to life access to languages! PONS language materials also accompany learners to China or Romania with numerous dictionaries, language courses, vocabulary, reading material etc. in over 30 languages for every situation. And because everyone learns differently PONS has everything, from traditional dictionaries and grammar, audio and software language courses to our digital range such as free online dictionaries, vocabulary trainer and our apps.
Klett learning training
The specialist for learning aids in the Klett Group.
At Klett Lerntraining, we develop materials that support children and young people in learning - for better grades and more success in school. Helping parents and teachers find the right support for every child and from the start is very important to us.
Our integrated learning system and our learning content stand for the highest pedagogical competence, the products for high quality and innovation.
With our learning aids, we cover the essential situations of looking up (knowledge), practice, testing and exam preparation in all grades, core subjects and school forms. Whether it be support materials for kindergarteners, practice materials for primary school children and the grades 5-10 or reading aids and preparation materials for the Abitur: we have the right support for everyone. These include learning aids to accompany the textbook as well as learning aids with popular characters from the world of Bibi & Tina.
Milestones Klett learning training
Founded as an editorial school education at Ernst Klett Verlag. There, materials for teachers, textbooks and learning aids are developed for school teachers.
The first reading aids appear.
The first learning software from Klett Lerntraining comes to market.
Creation of our first primary school learning aid series “The little learning dragons”
Spelling reform and conversion of all titles to the “new” spelling.
The development focus is on learning aids.
Development of the “Online-Training” learning portal for parents, pupils and teachers with a range of exercises from primary school to high school graduation.
Market leader in ground handling aids**.
The series of successes “KomplettTrainer Gymnasium” (Complete Trainer High School) begins.
University knowledge comes to Klett Lerntraining and complements the portfolio.
The first learning aids to school books of Ernst Klett Verlag are published.
Start preparing for the Abitur with flashcards in the „Abi-Lernbox”.
Our first first reading series „Die kleinen Lesedrachen“ (The little reading dragons) is published with the Geolino license.
The series “Ich kommen ins Gymnasium” is starting, the foundation stone for the successful series „Sicher ins Gymnasium“ (Safe in Gymnasium).
Development of learning aids with a performance diagnosis online through tests for primary school and secondary level 1.
Start of the licensing partnership with the characters from the world of “Bibi Blocksberg”.
Start of the licensing partnership with the characters from “Bibi & Tina”.
Start of the licensing partnership with characters from “„Wickie und die starken Männer“ (Wickie and the Strong Men).
Creation of the “Lesedrachen-Club” online matching the first reading series.
The first products with online exercises appear.
Development of explainer videos suitable for many products in cooperation with Sofatutor.
Start licensing partnership with Playmobil.
Start Licensing partnership with characters from “Sendung mit der Maus” (The mouse show).
Start of the successful series „Mein Lieblings-Block“ (My Favorite Block) for kindergarten and preschool children.
„Die Deutsch-Helden” (The german heroes) and “Die Mathe-Helden” (The maths heroes) conquer the primary school market.
First product development for McDonald’s Happy Meal with characters from “Wickie and the Strong Men”.
Start of the series “Abi last minute”.
Digital Intermediate Success: A digital learning platform complements 25% of book titles.
During the pandemic, our products have been valuable learning companions in homeschooling.
Over 875,000 books have been sold with our licensing partner "Bibi & Tina".
The "Team Drachenstark" successfully replaces "Die kleine Lerndrachen".
More than 300.000 "KomplettTrainer" (complete trainers) sold.
** Basket 842 GfK in 2005
Get to know the history of »Langenscheidt.
Get in contact with us
Do you have any questions about PONS or our products? Do you want to praise or criticize us? You can find answers to lots of questions that our users send us daily on our FAQ page. Do you have technical problems at www.pons.com? One of our digital products doesn’t work? Check out PONS Help to see if there is already a solution to your problem.
You can’t find the answer to your question? Send a mail to our customer support.