German · A2 (Elementary)
Work in German: Words & Phrases
Quick answer: The most useful German words for work are der Vertrag (the contract), das Gehalt (the salary) and der Urlaub (the holiday / vacation). 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 A2 (Elementary) 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 |
|---|---|
| der Vertrag | the contract |
| das Gehalt | the salary |
| der Urlaub | the holiday / vacation |
| die Überstunden | the overtime |
| kündigen | to resign / quit |
| einstellen | to hire |
| das Vorstellungsgespräch | the job interview |
| der Lebenslauf | the CV / résumé |
| die Bewerbung | the application |
| befördern | to promote |
Example sentences
Ich habe einen neuen Vertrag unterschrieben.
I signed a new contract.
Mein Gehalt ist sehr gut.
My salary is very good.
Ich habe drei Wochen Urlaub.
I have three weeks holiday.
Ich mache keine Überstunden.
I don't do overtime.
Ich möchte kündigen.
I would like to resign.
Die Firma stellt neue Mitarbeiter ein.
The company is hiring new employees.
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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