How to Say "How Is Work Going?" in German

Wie läuft die Arbeit?

The German phrase for "how is work going?" is Wie läuft die Arbeit?

This phrase is used to ask someone about the progress or current state of their job or professional tasks. While Wie läuft die Arbeit? focuses on the progress of the work itself, asking Wie geht es dir bei der Arbeit? would instead focus more on how the person is feeling or coping while at work.

What does it mean word for word?

Literally, the phrase translates to "How runs the work?", where läuft (runs) is used to mean "is going" or "is progressing".

Which one should you use?

Different variations exist depending on the setting: Wie läuft es beruflich? and Wie geht es Ihnen beruflich? are formal ways to ask how things are going professionally or how work is going for someone. For more casual settings, you can use Wie läuft die Arbeit so?, Wie läuft's im Job? or Wie geht's auf der Arbeit? The contraction läuft's (läuft es) in the phrase Wie läuft's bei der Arbeit? makes the question sound more casual and colloquial than the standard Wie läuft die Arbeit?

Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?

For formal situations, use Wie läuft es beruflich? or Wie geht es Ihnen beruflich? In informal settings, you can use Wie läuft die Arbeit so?, Wie läuft's im Job?, Wie geht's auf der Arbeit? or the contracted Wie läuft's bei der Arbeit?

Is it said differently in some regions?

Wie läuft die Maloche? is a colloquial expression used in Northern Germany to mean "How is the grind?"

How does it change in a sentence?

In the phrase Wie läuft die Arbeit?, the verb läuft is the third-person singular present tense of laufen (to run/walk).

Did you know?

The German word Arbeit shares an ancient root with the English word 'orphan', both tracing back to a term meaning 'servant' or 'slave'.
While Wie läuft die Arbeit? asks about progress, Germans often use the verb laufen to describe anything from a business process to a romantic relationship.

Examples in context

Wie läuft die Arbeit? – Ganz gut, viel zu tun, aber es geht.
How is work going? – Quite good, lots to do, but it's going.

Example conversation

Julian and Laura are meeting for coffee.

Julian

Schön dich zu sehen! Wie läuft die Arbeit?
Nice to see you! How is work going?
Laura

Es läuft eigentlich ganz gut, danke.
It's actually going quite well, thanks.
Julian

Hast du viel Stress im Moment?
Do you have a lot of stress at the moment?
Laura

Ja, aber ich mag mein Team sehr.
Yes, but I like my team very much.

Sources

Word origins: Wiktionary entries Arbeit, die, wie, CC BY-SA 4.0.

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How to Say “How Is Work Going?” in German