German for Work: Business Vocabulary, Workplace Phrases, and What Level You Need
Germany, Austria, and Switzerland collectively represent one of the world's most significant economic zones — and the demand for professionals who can work in German is enormous. Whether you're relocating for a job, navigating a German-speaking workplace, or preparing for a job interview, the right vocabulary and register make a substantial difference. This guide covers what you actually need.
What level of German do you need for work?
The answer varies by industry and role, but here are honest benchmarks:
| Level | What it means for work | Typical roles |
|---|---|---|
| A2 | Can handle basic workplace interactions, simple instructions, casual smalltalk | Manual labour, kitchen work, roles with minimal communication |
| B1 | Can participate in meetings at basic level, write simple emails, handle most daily interactions | Service roles, trades, some technical roles with English as working language |
| B2 | Can handle most professional interactions, write formal correspondence, participate actively in meetings | Office roles, client-facing work, most professional positions in Germany |
| C1 | Full professional proficiency — presentations, negotiations, complex writing, no significant limitations | Management, legal, academic, media, senior professional roles |
In Germany, B2 is the minimum for most skilled professional roles and is commonly required for blue card (skilled worker) visa applicants. Many German universities require C1 for German-language programs. In Switzerland, many multinational firms use English internally, but client-facing roles require at least B2 German.
Formal vs informal German at work
German workplaces are more formal than English-speaking ones. The Sie/du distinction (formal vs informal "you") matters professionally:
- Sie — formal address. Used with colleagues you don't know well, superiors, clients, and anyone who hasn't offered the du form. Always safer to start with Sie and wait for the other person to suggest du.
- du — informal. Offered by the senior person or more established employee. In tech startups and younger companies, du is often standard from day one.
- Moving from Sie to du is called "das Du anbieten" (offering the du). It's always the older/more senior person's initiative.
When in doubt, use Sie until told otherwise. Using du with a senior colleague without being invited is a notable social error in traditional German workplaces.
Essential workplace vocabulary
| German | English |
|---|---|
| die Besprechung / das Meeting | the meeting |
| die Tagesordnung | the agenda |
| das Protokoll | the minutes (of a meeting) |
| der Vorgesetzte / die Vorgesetzte | the supervisor / boss (m/f) |
| der Kollege / die Kollegin | the colleague (m/f) |
| die Abteilung | the department |
| die Deadline / der Abgabetermin | the deadline |
| das Projekt | the project |
| die Präsentation | the presentation |
| das Gehalt | the salary |
| der Urlaub | the holiday / annual leave |
| die Kündigung | the resignation / notice |
| der Vertrag | the contract |
| die Bewerbung | the job application |
| das Vorstellungsgespräch | the job interview |
| der Lebenslauf | the CV / résumé |
| die Weiterbildung | the professional development / training |
| die Überstunden (pl) | overtime |
Meeting phrases
These phrases cover the most common situations in a German-language business meeting:
- Ich würde gerne anfangen. — I'd like to start / begin.
- Kommen wir zum nächsten Punkt. — Let's move to the next point.
- Darf ich kurz etwas sagen? — May I say something briefly?
- Ich stimme zu / Ich stimme nicht zu. — I agree / I disagree.
- Das sehe ich anders. — I see that differently. (polite disagreement)
- Können Sie das bitte wiederholen? — Could you please repeat that?
- Was meinen Sie genau damit? — What exactly do you mean by that?
- Ich schlage vor, dass ... — I propose that ...
- Wir einigen uns auf ... — We agree on ...
- Wir vertagen das auf die nächste Sitzung. — We'll postpone that to the next meeting.
- Bis wann soll das fertig sein? — By when should this be finished?
Email phrases
German business emails follow formal conventions. The opening and closing lines are important:
Salutations (formal):
- Sehr geehrte Frau [Name], — Dear Ms [Name], (to a woman)
- Sehr geehrter Herr [Name], — Dear Mr [Name], (to a man)
- Sehr geehrte Damen und Herren, — Dear Sir or Madam, (unknown recipient)
Closings (formal):
- Mit freundlichen Grüßen, — Kind regards, (most common formal closing)
- Mit besten Grüßen, — Best regards,
- Hochachtungsvoll, — Yours faithfully, (very formal, less common)
Useful email body phrases:
- Ich schreibe Ihnen bezüglich ... — I'm writing to you regarding ...
- Im Anhang finden Sie ... — In the attachment you will find ...
- Ich bitte Sie um eine kurze Rückmeldung. — I would ask you for a brief response.
- Vielen Dank für Ihre Nachricht. — Thank you very much for your message.
- Ich freue mich auf Ihre Antwort. — I look forward to your reply.
Job interview vocabulary
- Ich bewerbe mich für die Stelle als ... — I am applying for the position as ...
- Ich habe [X] Jahre Erfahrung in ... — I have [X] years of experience in ...
- Meine Stärken sind ... — My strengths are ...
- Ich bin teamfähig und zuverlässig. — I am a team player and reliable.
- Warum möchten Sie bei uns arbeiten? — Why do you want to work with us?
- Ich habe großes Interesse an Ihrer Firma. — I have great interest in your company.
- Welche Weiterentwicklungsmöglichkeiten gibt es? — What opportunities for professional development are there?
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