German · A1 (Beginner)
Work in German: Words & Phrases
Quick answer: The most useful German words for work are die Arbeit (the work / job), das Büro (the office) and der Chef (the boss). The full German work phrase list with example sentences is below.
The essential German vocabulary for work, with example sentences and English translations. This is A1 (Beginner) material — exactly the kind of practical language you need when you're learning German to live, work, or settle abroad.
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Key work vocabulary
| German | English |
|---|---|
| die Arbeit | the work / job |
| das Büro | the office |
| der Chef | the boss |
| der Kollege | the colleague |
| arbeiten | to work |
| die Stelle | the job / position |
| die Pause | the break |
| das Meeting | the meeting |
| der Laptop | the laptop |
| das Gehalt | the salary |
Example sentences
Ich gehe zur Arbeit.
I'm going to work.
Ich arbeite im Büro.
I work in the office.
Mein Chef ist sehr nett.
My boss is very nice.
Mein Kollege heißt Thomas.
My colleague's name is Thomas.
Ich arbeite von 9 bis 17 Uhr.
I work from 9 to 5.
Ich suche eine neue Stelle.
I'm looking for a new job.
How to actually learn these
Reading a vocabulary list is not the same as being able to use the words when it counts. Research on adult language acquisition consistently shows that vocabulary retained through contextual use — hearing a word, producing it under mild pressure, and being corrected when you get it wrong — transfers to real speech far more effectively than passive list review. The fastest way to make vocabulary like this stick is to practise it in the actual conversations where it comes up: not drills, but a real back-and-forth where you have to retrieve the word and say it aloud. Language Lab turns vocabulary like this into voiced, real-life scenarios with Sonia, a live AI language tutor who holds real conversations, corrects you in context, and remembers the specific words you keep getting wrong across sessions. The vocabulary stops being something you read and becomes something you say — automatically, under pressure, when you actually need it.
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