German Apprenticeship & Training Vocabulary
This set covers Germany's dual vocational training system, built around words like die Ausbildung, der Lehrling, and das Praktikum. English speakers often assume Praktikum means the same as Ausbildung, but they're not interchangeable: a Praktikum is a short internship, while an Ausbildung is the multi-year apprenticeship contract with a company that ends in a formal qualification. Also worth noting: der Azubi is the informal short form of Auszubildender, the word Germans actually use in speech far more than the full term.
Learn these 13 words
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All 13 words
plural: die Praktika
internship, practicum
Ich mache ein Praktikum bei Siemens. — I am doing an internship at Siemens.
plural: die Berufsschulen
vocational school
Er geht dienstags in die Berufsschule. — He goes to vocational school on Tuesdays.
plural: die Ausbilder
trainer/instructor
Mein Ausbilder erklärt alles sehr geduldig. — My trainer explains everything very patiently.
plural: die Ausbilderinnen
female trainer
Die Ausbilderin zeigt uns die neue Maschine. — The trainer shows us the new machine.
plural: die Ausbildungen
training, education
Ich habe meine Ausbildung abgeschlossen. — I have completed my training.
plural: die Ausbildungsplätze
apprenticeship place/position
Er hat endlich einen Ausbildungsplatz gefunden. — He has finally found an apprenticeship position.
plural: die Lehren
apprenticeship
Mein Cousin will eine dreijährige Lehre machen. — My cousin wants to do a three-year apprenticeship.
plural: die Lehrlinge
apprentice
Als Lehrling verdient man nicht sehr viel Geld. — As an apprentice, you don't earn very much money.
plural: die Lehrstellen
apprenticeship
Es sind noch viele Lehrstellen frei. — There are still many apprenticeships available.
plural: die Praktikanten
male intern
Bei dieser Firma habe ich zwei Jahre als Praktikantin gearbeitet. — I worked as an intern at this company for two years.
plural: die Praktikantinnen
female intern
Ich habe diesen Sommer als Praktikantin gearbeitet. — I worked as an intern this summer.
plural: die Azubis
a trainee
Der Azubi lernt schnell im Betrieb. — The trainee learns quickly in the business.
to retrain
Er will sich zum Elektriker umschulen. — He wants to retrain as an electrician.
How to learn this set
Notice how many of these words share the root Aus-bild-: Ausbildung, Ausbilder, Ausbilderin, Ausbildungsplatz. Once you know Ausbildung means "training," you can guess that der Ausbilder is the person who trains and der Ausbildungsplatz is the slot you train in. The same pairing trick works for Praktikant/Praktikantin and Lehrling/Lehrstelle: learn the male form and the -in or -stelle variant falls into place. Drill der Ausbilder against die Ausbilderin and der Praktikant against die Praktikantin side by side so the gender swap becomes automatic rather than something you have to stop and think about.
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Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between Praktikum and Ausbildung?
Ein Praktikum is a short-term internship, often a few weeks or months, sometimes unpaid, and usually done alongside or before other studies. Eine Ausbildung is the full vocational training program, typically 2-3.5 years, that ends with a recognized qualification and a paid trainee salary throughout.
What does Azubi mean in German?
Azubi is short for Auszubildender/Auszubildende, meaning trainee or apprentice. It's the everyday word Germans use instead of the full term, similar to how English speakers just say intern instead of internship participant.
Is Lehre the same as Ausbildung?
Yes, in modern usage die Lehre and die Ausbildung both mean apprenticeship or vocational training and are largely interchangeable. Lehre is the older, slightly more traditional word, while Ausbildung is now the standard official term.
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