German Contracts & Employment Vocabulary
This set covers the vocabulary of a German employment contract, from der Arbeitgeber and der Arbeitnehmer to what happens when things end: die Kündigung, die Entlassung, die Probezeit. One trap for English speakers: der Arbeitgeber (employer) and der Arbeitnehmer (employee) look like they could go either way, since 'give work' and 'take work' isn't how English frames the roles, so it's easy to swap them under pressure.
Learn these 19 words
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All 19 words
plural: die Arbeitgeber
employer
Mein Arbeitgeber zahlt ein gutes Gehalt. — My employer pays a good salary.
plural: die Arbeitnehmer
employee
Der Arbeitnehmer hat viele Rechte. — The employee has many rights.
plural: die Arbeitszeiten
working hours
Die Arbeitszeit beginnt um acht Uhr. — Working hours begin at eight o'clock.
- kündigenA2
terminate/give notice
Meine Arbeit gefällt mir nicht mehr. Ich habe heute gekündigt. — I don't like my work anymore. I gave notice today.
plural: die Verträge
contract
Ich muss den Vertrag noch unterschreiben. — I still need to sign the contract.
employed, working
Sind Sie berufstätig? — Are you employed?
plural: die Beschäftigungen
occupation, activity
Ich suche eine Halbtagsbeschäftigung, weil ich ein kleines Kind habe. — I am looking for a part-time occupation because I have a small child.
hire, adjust
Die Firma wird in diesem Jahr drei neue Leute einstellen. — The company will hire three new people this year.
plural: die Entlassungen
dismissal, layoff
Seine Entlassung aus der Firma kam überraschend. — His dismissal from the company came as a surprise.
to approve, permit
Mein Chef hat mir sechs Wochen Urlaub genehmigt. — My boss approved six weeks of vacation for me.
plural: die Kündigungen
termination
Ich habe die Kündigung bekommen. Jetzt bin ich arbeitslos. — I received my termination notice. Now I am unemployed.
to authorize
Der Manager wird autorisiert, Verträge zu unterzeichnen. — The manager is authorized to sign contracts.
to instruct / commission
Der Chef beauftragt den Mitarbeiter mit der Aufgabe. — The boss instructs the employee with the task.
plural: die Probezeiten
probation / trial period
Die Probezeit dauert drei Monate im neuen Job. — The probation period lasts three months in the new job.
to commit / obligate
Der Arbeitsvertrag verpflichtet Sie zur Einhaltung aller Unternehmensrichtlinien. — The employment contract commits you to comply with all company policies.
authorized / licensed
Er ist als Anwalt zur Rechtsberatung zugelassen. — He is licensed to practice as a lawyer for legal advice.
plural: die Abordnungen
a secondment = an arrangement where a company temporarily assigns an employee to a new position
Die Abordnung eines Mitarbeiters dauerte sechs Monate. — The secondment of an employee lasted six months.
plural: die Freistellungen
an exemption
Die Freistellung vom Dienst galt für drei Monate. — The exemption from duty applied for three months.
plural: die Maßregelungen
a reprimand / discipline
Die Maßregelung des Mitarbeiters war unvermeidlich. — The reprimand of the employee was unavoidable.
How to learn this set
Several nouns here share the -ung ending and are all feminine: die Kündigung, die Entlassung, die Abordnung, die Maßregelung, die Freistellung. That's not a coincidence, -ung nouns built from verbs (kündigen, entlassen, abordnen, maßregeln, freistellen) are reliably feminine in German, so once you spot the pattern you get the gender for free. Drill them by pairing each noun with its source verb: kündigen/die Kündigung, verpflichten/die Verpflichtung-type logic, and you'll fix both the meaning and the article at once. For the harder C1 items like beauftragen, genehmigen, and autorisieren, drill them side by side since they overlap in meaning (all involve giving someone authority or a task) but differ in formality and context.
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Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between der Arbeitgeber and der Arbeitnehmer?
Der Arbeitgeber is the employer, literally the one who 'gives work'. Der Arbeitnehmer is the employee, the one who 'takes work'. English speakers often mix them up because the logic runs the opposite direction from 'employer/employee', so check which half of the compound you're reading.
What's the difference between die Kündigung and die Entlassung?
Die Kündigung is the formal act of terminating a contract, and either side can issue one, you can hand in your own Kündigung or receive one. Die Entlassung specifically means the employer dismissing you, closer to 'being let go' or 'dismissal'.
Is die Freistellung the same as being fired?
No. Die Freistellung means being released from the duty to work, often on full pay, during notice periods or garden leave. It's a temporary exemption from work, not a termination of the contract itself.
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