📕 Lektion 17: Arbeit — Work (Jobs and Duties)
💼 Welcome! In this lesson you'll learn how to talk about jobs and work in German! How to ask someone "What do you do?" and answer. You'll learn important words about work. A very useful lesson!
🔙 Back to A1 Level · 📕 Course Book
🎬 Lesson Video
1. 💼 New Words (Neue Wörter) — Jobs and Duties
Let's learn important words about jobs and work. These words will help you talk about your profession!
👨⚕️ Jobs — Male (Berufe — männlich)
| German | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| der Arzt | deer arzt | the doctor (male) |
| der Lehrer | deer LAY-rer | the teacher (male) |
| der Student | deer shtoo-DENT | the student (university, male) |
| der Polizist | deer po-li-TSIST | the police officer (male) |
| der Koch | deer kokh | the cook / chef (male) |
| der Fahrer | deer FAH-rer | the driver (male) |
| der Verkäufer | deer fer-KOY-fer | the salesperson (male) |
| der Mechaniker | deer me-KAH-nee-ker | the mechanic (male) |
| der Kellner | deer KEL-ner | the waiter |
| der Ingenieur | deer in-geh-NYUR | the engineer (male) |
| der Programmierer | deer pro-gra-MEE-rer | the programmer (male) |
| der Musiker | deer MOO-zee-ker | the musician (male) |
👩⚕️ Jobs — Female (Berufe — weiblich)
| German | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| die Ärztin | dee ERTST-in | the doctor (female) |
| die Lehrerin | dee LAY-rer-in | the teacher (female) |
| die Studentin | dee shtoo-DEN-tin | the student (university, female) |
| die Polizistin | dee po-li-TSIS-tin | the police officer (female) |
| die Köchin | dee KOKH-in | the cook / chef (female) |
| die Fahrerin | dee FAH-rer-in | the driver (female) |
| die Verkäuferin | dee fer-KOY-fer-in | the salesperson (female) |
| die Mechanikerin | dee me-KAH-nee-ker-in | the mechanic (female) |
| die Kellnerin | dee KEL-ner-in | the waitress |
| die Ingenieurin | dee in-geh-NYUR-in | the engineer (female) |
| die Programmiererin | dee pro-gra-MEE-rer-in | the programmer (female) |
| die Musikerin | dee MOO-zee-ker-in | the musician (female) |
💡 Tip: See the difference? Male jobs have no -in ending, female jobs add -in at the end!
der Arzt → die Ärztin / der Lehrer → die Lehrerin
🏢 The Workplace (Der Arbeitsplatz)
| German | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| die Arbeit | dee AR-bite | the work |
| der Beruf | deer be-ROOF | the profession / job |
| das Büro | dahs bü-ROH | the office |
| die Firma | dee FEER-ma | the company |
| die Schule | dee SHOO-luh | the school |
| die Universität | dee u-nee-ver-zee-TÄT | the university |
| das Krankenhaus | dahs KRANK-en-hows | the hospital |
| die Fabrik | dee fab-REEK | the factory |
| das Restaurant | dahs res-toh-RANG | the restaurant |
| der Chef | deer shef | the boss (male) |
| die Chefin | dee SHEF-in | the boss (female) |
| der Kollege | deer ko-LAY-guh | the colleague (male) |
| die Kollegin | dee ko-LAY-gin | the colleague (female) |
🛠️ Important Verbs for Work (Verben für die Arbeit)
| German | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| arbeiten | AR-by-ten | to work |
| verdienen | fer-DEE-nen | to earn (money) |
| lernen | LER-nen | to learn |
| studieren | shtoo-DEE-ren | to study (at university) |
| helfen | HEL-fen | to help |
| kochen | KOKH-en | to cook |
| verkaufen | fer-KOW-fen | to sell |
| reparieren | re-pa-REE-ren | to repair / fix |
| unterrichten | oon-ter-RIKH-ten | to teach |
| kümmern (um) | KÜ-mern um | to take care of |
💡 Tip: lernen = to learn (general) / studieren = to study at university (a specific subject)
📋 Working Hours (Arbeitszeiten)
| German | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| die Stunde | dee SHTOON-duh | the hour |
| die Arbeitszeit | dee AR-byts-tsyt | working hours |
| der Urlaub | deer OOR-lowp | the vacation / holiday |
| das Wochenende | dahs VOKH-en-en-duh | the weekend |
| der Feierabend | deer FY-er-ah-bent | after work / end of workday |
| vollzeit | FOL-tsyt | full-time |
| teilzeit | TILE-tsyt | part-time |
2. 📝 Grammar: The verb "arbeiten" + Asking about jobs
Let's learn an important rule: how to conjugate the verb arbeiten (to work) and how to ask about someone's job.
🟢 Conjugation of arbeiten
| Pronoun | Verb | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| ich | arbeite | ish AR-by-tuh | I work |
| du | arbeitest | doo AR-by-test | you work (informal) |
| er / sie / es | arbeitet | er/zees AR-by-tet | he / she / it works |
| wir | arbeiten | veer AR-by-ten | we work |
| ihr | arbeitet | eer AR-by-tet | you all work |
| sie / Sie | arbeiten | zee AR-by-ten | they work / you work (formal) |
⚠️ Note: The verb arbeiten adds an extra -e- before -st and -t! Not like normal verbs.
du arbeitest (not du arbeitst) , er arbeitet (not er arbeit)
🟢 Asking about jobs — Two ways
Way 1: Was bist du von Beruf?
| German | English |
|---|---|
| Was bist du von Beruf? | What do you do? / What's your job? |
| Ich bin Arzt. | I am a doctor. |
| Ich bin Lehrerin. | I am a teacher. |
| Ich bin Student. | I am a student. |
Way 2: Was machst du beruflich?
| German | English |
|---|---|
| Was machst du beruflich? | What do you do for work? (literally: what do you do professionally?) |
| Ich arbeite als Koch. | I work as a cook. |
| Ich arbeite in einer Firma. | I work in a company. |
💡 The difference: - Ich bin + Job (Ich bin Lehrer) = I am + profession - Ich arbeite als + Job (Ich arbeite als Lehrer) = I work as + profession
🟢 Questions about the workplace
| German | English |
|---|---|
| Wo arbeitest du? | Where do you work? |
| Ich arbeite in einem Büro. | I work in an office. |
| Ich arbeite in der Schule. | I work at a school. |
| Ich arbeite bei Siemens. | I work at Siemens. |
| Ich arbeite im Krankenhaus. | I work at a hospital. |
🗣️ Useful Sentences about Work
| German | English |
|---|---|
| Ich habe einen Job. | I have a job. |
| Ich suche einen Job. | I'm looking for a job. |
| Ich arbeite gern. | I like to work. |
| Ich arbeite nicht gern. | I don't like to work. |
| Ich arbeite von 9 bis 17 Uhr. | I work from 9 to 5. |
| Mein Beruf ist interessant. | My job is interesting. |
| Das ist langweilig. | That's boring. |
| Das ist schwer. | That's difficult. |
| Ich verdiene gut. | I earn well (good salary). |
| Ich habe Urlaub. | I am on vacation. |
3. 💬 Conversation (Gespräch) — Was machst du beruflich?
This is a conversation between Leila and Karim getting to know each other and talking about their jobs:
Karim: Hallo Leila! Wie geht es dir? (Hello Leila! How are you?)
Leila: Hallo Karim! Mir geht es gut, danke. Und dir? (Hello Karim! I'm fine, thanks. And you?)
Karim: Auch gut, danke. Sag mal, was machst du beruflich? (Also good, thanks. Tell me, what do you do for work?)
Leila: Ich bin Ärztin. Ich arbeite im Krankenhaus. Und du? (I'm a doctor. I work at the hospital. And you?)
Karim: Ich bin Programmierer. Ich arbeite in einer Firma. (I'm a programmer. I work in a company.)
Leila: Interessant! Arbeitest du gern? (Interesting! Do you like your work?)
Karim: Ja, ich arbeite sehr gern. Mein Job ist interessant. Und du? Arbeitest du gern? (Yes, I like working very much. My job is interesting. And you? Do you like your work?)
Leila: Ja, ich helfe Menschen. Das ist schön! Aber die Arbeit ist manchmal schwer. (Yes, I help people. That's nice! But the work is sometimes difficult.)
Karim: Wie viele Stunden arbeitest du pro Woche? (How many hours do you work per week?)
Leila: Ich arbeite 40 Stunden pro Woche. Vollzeit. Und du? (I work 40 hours per week. Full-time. And you?)
Karim: Ich arbeite auch Vollzeit. Von 9 bis 17 Uhr. Und am Wochenende habe ich frei! (I also work full-time. From 9 to 5. And on the weekend I'm free!)
Leila: Schön! Ich habe am Wochenende manchmal Dienst. (Nice! I sometimes have duty on the weekend.)
Karim: Oh, das ist nicht so schön! Aber du hilfst Menschen — das ist wichtig. (Oh, that's not so nice! But you help people — that's important.)
Leila: Ja, genau! Freut mich, Karim! Tschüss! (Yes, exactly! Nice to meet you, Karim! Bye!)
Karim: Tschüss, Leila! Bis bald! (Bye, Leila! See you soon!)
🧐 Questions about the conversation:
| Question in German | English |
|---|---|
| Was ist Leila von Beruf? | What is Leila's job? |
| Wo arbeitet Leila? | Where does Leila work? |
| Was ist Karim von Beruf? | What is Karim's job? |
| Wo arbeitet Karim? | Where does Karim work? |
| Arbeitet Karim gern? | Does Karim like his work? |
| Was sagt Leila über ihren Job? | What does Leila say about her job? |
| Wie viele Stunden arbeitet Leila pro Woche? | How many hours does Leila work per week? |
| Wann hat Karim frei? | When is Karim free? |
✅ Answers:
- Leila is a doctor (Ärztin).
- Leila works at the hospital (im Krankenhaus).
- Karim is a programmer (Programmierer).
- Karim works in a company (in einer Firma).
- Yes, Karim likes his work very much (sehr gern).
- Leila says: She helps people — that's nice, but sometimes difficult.
- Leila works 40 hours per week.
- Karim is free on the weekend (am Wochenende).
4. 🗣️ Lesson Vocabulary (Wortschatz)
| German | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| die Arbeit | dee AR-bite | the work |
| der Beruf | deer be-ROOF | the profession / job |
| arbeiten | AR-by-ten | to work |
| der Arzt / die Ärztin | — | the doctor (m/f) |
| der Lehrer / die Lehrerin | — | the teacher (m/f) |
| der Student / die Studentin | — | the student (m/f, university) |
| der Polizist / die Polizistin | — | the police officer (m/f) |
| der Koch / die Köchin | — | the cook / chef (m/f) |
| der Fahrer / die Fahrerin | — | the driver (m/f) |
| der Verkäufer / die Verkäuferin | — | the salesperson (m/f) |
| der Ingenieur / die Ingenieurin | — | the engineer (m/f) |
| der Programmierer / die Programmiererin | — | the programmer (m/f) |
| der Kellner / die Kellnerin | — | the waiter / waitress |
| der Musiker / die Musikerin | — | the musician (m/f) |
| der Mechaniker / die Mechanikerin | — | the mechanic (m/f) |
| das Büro | dahs bü-ROH | the office |
| die Firma | dee FEER-ma | the company |
| das Krankenhaus | dahs KRANK-en-hows | the hospital |
| die Schule | dee SHOO-luh | the school |
| die Fabrik | dee fab-REEK | the factory |
| der Chef / die Chefin | — | the boss (m/f) |
| der Kollege / die Kollegin | — | the colleague (m/f) |
| verdienen | fer-DEE-nen | to earn |
| helfen | HEL-fen | to help |
| lernen | LER-nen | to learn |
| studieren | shtoo-DEE-ren | to study (at university) |
| die Stunde | dee SHTOON-duh | the hour |
| die Arbeitszeit | dee AR-byts-tsyt | working hours |
| der Urlaub | deer OOR-lowp | the vacation / holiday |
| der Feierabend | deer FY-er-ah-bent | after work / end of workday |
| vollzeit | FOL-tsyt | full-time |
| teilzeit | TILE-tsyt | part-time |
| Was bist du von Beruf? | vas bist doo fon be-ROOF | What do you do? |
| Was machst du beruflich? | vas makst doo be-ROOF-likh | What do you do for work? |
| Ich bin ... | ish bin | I am ... |
| Ich arbeite als ... | ish AR-by-teh als | I work as ... |
| Wo arbeitest du? | voh AR-by-test doo | Where do you work? |
✅ Lesson Summary
| What did you learn? | Key Sentence |
|---|---|
| Names of jobs (male and female) | der Arzt / die Ärztin, der Lehrer / die Lehrerin |
| Names of workplaces | das Büro, die Firma, das Krankenhaus |
| Conjugation of arbeiten | ich arbeite, du arbeitest, er arbeitet |
| Asking about jobs | Was bist du von Beruf? |
| Answering about jobs | Ich bin Arzt. / Ich arbeite als Lehrer. |
| Asking about the workplace | Wo arbeitest du? |
| Working hours | Vollzeit, Teilzeit, der Urlaub, der Feierabend |
| Difference between lernen and studieren | lernen = to learn / studieren = to study at university |
🎉 Great job! You finished Lektion 17! Now you can talk about your job in German and ask others about theirs! 👉 Next step: Go to the 📝 Übungsbuch exercises Lektion 17 and solve them to practice!