Ways to say it
| German | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Job | /dʒɔp/ | masculine |
| Arbeit | /ˈaʁbaɪ̯t/ | feminine |
| Beruf | /bəˈʁuːf/ | masculine |
| Stelle | /ˈʃtɛlə/ | feminine |
| Anstellung | feminine |
In German, several words can represent the concept of a job or economic role, ranging from general labor to a specific lifelong vocation.
Which one should you use?
While Job refers to a specific task or position, Beruf refers to one's trained profession or lifelong vocation. Arbeit is a more general term for 'work' or 'labor' in a broad sense, whereas Job refers to a specific employment position. Stelle is often used when referring to a specific job opening or a position within a company hierarchy.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
Job is a loanword from English and is used frequently in colloquial German, but may feel less formal than Beruf or Anstellung. The term Job is used in German to denote a job in both spoken and written conversations. The term Arbeit is a common and versatile way to say 'job' in formal situations. The term Beruf is used to emphasize a profession or occupation in a formal manner. The term Stelle is used to refer to a specific position or job opening in formal settings.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
Because Job is a masculine noun, it changes to den Job when it is the direct object of a sentence.
How do you pronounce it?
/dʒɔp/
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers might mistakenly treat Job as a neuter noun because of its English origin, but in German, it is masculine (der Job).
Did you know?
- The word Arbeit shares a distant linguistic root with the English word 'orphan'. It originally stems from an Indo-European word meaning 'servant' or 'slave'.
- In German, a person's profession is often described as a Beruf, which literally translates to a 'calling'. This implies that a career is something one is summoned to do.
- While English speakers use 'job' to mean any employment, using the German word Job often implies something temporary or casual, such as a side hustle.
Examples in context
- Es ist mein Job.It's my job.This sentence is useful for stating that something is your job using Job.Tatoeba #547272 by Espi, translation #433521 by CK
- Es ist Toms Job.It's Tom's job.This sentence is useful for showing possession with Job.Tatoeba #6615626 by Felixjp, translation #2235832 by CK
- Ich mag den Job.I like that job.This sentence is useful for expressing liking for a specific job using Job.Tatoeba #10013895 by wolfgangth, translation #4401062 by CK
- Ich habe eine neue Arbeit gefunden.I found a new job.
- Diese Stelle erfordert Erfahrung im Verkauf.This position requires sales experience.
- Ich muss meinen Job wechseln.I need to change my job.
- Ich habe heute viel Arbeit im Büro.I have a lot of work at the office today.
- 1651 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Two friends are talking about their careers at a cafe.
- SarahSuchst du einen neuen Job?Are you looking for a new job?
- LukasJa, mein Job ist zu stressig.Yes, my job is too stressful.
- SarahSoll ich dir bei der Suche helfen?Should I help you with the search?
- LukasDas wäre sehr nett von dir, Sarah.That would be very kind of you, Sarah.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “job” translations and entries Job, Arbeit, Beruf, Stelle, Anstellung, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries Arbeit, Beruf, Job, Stelle, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
