Abstract: An armature for a relay has a stationary armature element with two arm portions extending substantially normal to one another, and a movable armature element which is arranged movable relative to the stationary armature element with the aid of a joint including a projection formed on one arm portion of the stationary armature element and having a predetermined trapeze-like cross section, and a groove formed in the movable armature element and having a cross section which is greater than the cross section of the projection of the arm portion of the stationary armature element. The groove of the movable armature element may be uninterrupted, or interrupted and formed by two pairs of protuberances. The projection and the groove may include two flanks inclined towards one another by different angles and connected with one another by a circular end section.