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Business German: A top guide to culture, etiquette, vocab + more

June 06, 2024

Author

Marie Schmoll

Editor

Berlitz

Do you want one month of annual vacation, three years of parental leave, and a bottle of beer after each workday? Consider applying for a job in Germany!

As the world becomes increasingly globalized, workplaces are more culturally diverse than ever before. Some of us are working remotely with international teams from all over the world, while others go to the office where they get to meet with people from more and more diverse backgrounds.

Regardless of that, every single workplace has its own unique work culture. So starting a new job can be like moving to a whole new place in several ways.

Whether you’re actually starting a new position in a German-speaking business environment or you’re just curious about how the Germans do business, we have some fascinating insights for you. Get ready for an extensive tour through the world of German business vocabulary and culture!

5 important facts about business German

Communicating in German is tough enough, but communicating in a German business environment might double your challenges. Here are 5 things to keep in mind when talking to your German colleagues:

Always say what you mean
Germans are known for a direct communication style that values honesty and straightforwardness. Be prepared for less small talk and more real talk.
Don’t get discouraged
German business terms can look especially intimidating because they tend to be extra long but keep in mind that scarily long German words are usually just compound nouns, so it helps to break them down into their parts.
Remember if you’re on a “du” or a “Sie” base with someone
“Sie” is a formal and polite way of addressing people. While it’s common to call your boss “Sie” in bigger companies, that will often sound too formal in smaller companies where your boss might be fairly close to you, so it’s ok to say “du”. Just use the form the other person initially uses to address you.
Punctuality is paramount
For some people “9 AM” can mean anything from 8:58 to 9:15 but in a German business context, it means 9 AM sharp. If you show up to a 9 AM meeting at 9:02, you’re late, and for some people, that’s pretty unforgivable, at least if you’re just starting out. So make sure you communicate when you’ll actually be there.
“Feierabendbierchen” is an important term
This refers to the “little after-work beer” and it’s an important part of German work culture. Especially in summer, colleagues like to hang around after work to celebrate the end of their work day with a good old German beer!

Top common business German words and vocabulary

Let’s get started with the most common German business terms. You’re likely to encounter these if you’re working in a German-speaking environment, so grab your notebook and a pen because there are a lot of them!

Basic business vocabulary

When you’re starting a new position in a German work environment, of course it’s crucial to master the basics:

Start by simply saying hi or good morning in German
Introduce yourself and know how to ask your coworkers for their names
Ask people how they are and how their work day is going
Make a little bit of small talk: When in doubt, talk about the weather!

German	English translation	German example sentence	Meaning
Willkommen	Welcome	Willkommen im Team!	Welcome to the team!
Jmd. kennenlernen	To meet so.	Schön dich/Sie kennenzulernen!	Nice to meet you!
Das Büro	Office	Wir sehen uns im Büro!	See you at the office!
Der Teamgeist	Team spirit	Das Team hat einen starken Teamgeist und arbeitet immer zusammen.	The team has a strong team spirit and always works together.
Das Meeting, die Besprechung	Meeting	Die Besprechung dauerte länger als erwartet.	The meeting lasted longer than expected.
Der Kundenservice	Customer service	Der Kundenservice des Unternehmens ist super freundlich und hilfsbereit.	The customer service of this company is super friendly and helpful.
Kunden	Customers	Die Zufriedenheit unserer Kunden ist uns sehr wichtig.	Customer satisfaction is very important to us.
Das Marketing	Marketing	Das Marketing-Team ist besonders kreativ.	The marketing team is especially creative.
Die Firma, das Unternehmen	Company	Ich arbeite für ein Tech-Unternehmen in Berlin.	I work for a tech company in Berlin.
Die Chefin, der Chef	Boss	Die Chefin stellt heute ihre neue Unternehmensstrategie vor.	The boss is presenting her new corporate strategy today.
Die Arbeit	Work	Ich gehe jeden Tag zur Arbeit.	I go to work every day.
Arbeiten	To work	Wo arbeitest du?	Where do you work?
Der Arbeitgeber	Employer (company)	Der Arbeitgeber hat mir heute ein neues Projekt zugewiesen.	The employer assigned me a new project today.
Die Angestellte, der Angestellte	Employee	Die Angestellten arbeiten hart, um die Ziele des Unternehmens zu erreichen.	The employees work hard to achieve the company's goals.
Die Kollegin, der Kollege	Colleague	Mein Kollege ist heute nicht im Büro.	My colleague is not in the office today.
Der Auftrag	Order, task	Der Auftrag muss bis Freitag erledigt sein.	The task must be completed by Friday.
Die Kaffeepause	Coffee break	Ich brauch’ erstmal eine kleine Kaffeepause.	I need a little coffee break.
Die Mittagspause	Lunch break	Ich freu’ mich jetzt schon auf die Mittagspause.	I’m already looking forward to my lunch break.
Der Feierabend	End of workday	Der Feierabend ist der Höhepunkt des Arbeitstags.	The best part of the workday is the end of it.

Human resources vocabulary

We’ll walk you through the whole process - from the job interview to your first promotion.

German	English translation	German example sentence	Meaning
Die Personalabteilung	Human resources (HR)	Die Personalabteilung kümmert sich um alle Angelegenheiten rund um unsere Mitarbeiter.	The Human Resources department takes care of all matters concerning our employees.
Die Stellenausschreibung	Job posting	Die Stellenausschreibung hat eine hohe Resonanz erzeugt.	The job posting has generated a high response.
Bewerber	Applicants	Unsere Bewerber sind die Zukunft unseres Unternehmens.	Our applicants are the future of our company.
Das Vorstellungsgespräch	Job interview	Das Vorstellungsgespräch ist immer eine großartige Gelegenheit, um die besten Leute für die Firma zu finden.	The job interview is always a great opportunity to find the best people for the company.
Der Job	Job	Herzlichen Glückwunsch zum neuen Job!	Congratulations on your new job!
Zuschüsse	Benefits	Die Zuschüsse für Mitarbeitergesundheit fördern unser Engagement für das Wohlbefinden der Mitarbeiter.	The subsidies for employee health promote our commitment to employee well-being.
Das Gehalt	Salary	Das Gehalt spiegelt die Wertschätzung des Unternehmens für unsere Mitarbeiter wider.	The salary reflects the company's appreciation for our employees.
Die Leistungsbeurteilung	Performance evaluation	Die Leistungsbeurteilung ist ein wichtiger Bestandteil der Mitarbeiterentwicklung in vielen Unternehmen.	Performance evaluation is an important part of employee development in many companies.
Die Einarbeitung	Onboarding	Die Einarbeitung neuer Mitarbeiter sollte Spaß machen und sie willkommen heißen.	The onboarding of new employees should be fun and welcoming.
Einstellen	To hire	Wir werden einen neuen Mitarbeiter einstellen, um das Team zu verstärken.	We’ll hire a new employee to strengthen the team.
Jdn. entlassen	To let sb. go	Leider müssen wir einige Mitarbeiter entlassen, um unsere Kosten zu reduzieren.	Unfortunately, we have to lay off some employees to reduce our costs.
Die Diversität	Diversity	Unsere Stärke liegt in unserer Diversität.	Our strength lies in our diversity.
Die Inklusion	Inclusion	Wir fördern Inklusion in unserem Unternehmen, um eine vielfältige Arbeitsumgebung zu schaffen.	We promote inclusion in our company to create a diverse work environment.
Die Beförderung	Promotion	Ich freue mich über meine Beförderung zur Teamleiterin.	I’m excited about my promotion to team leader.

Business meetings vocabulary

Once you’re used to your new job, you’ll be able to participate in meetings and share your ideas. Here’s how you do it.

German	English translation	German example sentence	Meaning
Anfangen	To start	Fangen wir an!	Let’s get started!
Der Vetrrag	Contract	Das steht so im Vertrag.	That's what the contract says.
Die Idee	Idea	Ich hab eine Idee.	I have an idea.
Die Frage	Question	Ich hab eine Frage.	I have a question.
Die Verhandlung	Negotiation	Wie lief die Verhandlung?	How did the negotiation go?
Meinen	To mean	Was meinst du/meinen Sie damit?	What do you mean by that?
Zustimmen	To agree	Ich stimme voll und ganz zu.	I completely agree with that.
Der Einwand	Objection	Ich hätte da einen Einwand.	I have an objection. (polite)
Der Vorschlag	Suggestion	Ich hab einen Vorschlag.	I have a suggestion.
Der Punkt	Point	Ausgezeichneter Punkt!	Excellent point!
Zu etw. kommen	To move on to sth.	Kommen wir zum nächsten Punkt!	Let's move on to the next point!
Vertagen	To table	Das vertagen wir aufs nächste Meeting.	Let’s table that for the next meeting.
Die Aufmerksamkeit	Attention	Vielen Dank für die Aufmerksamkeit!	Thank you for your attention!

Business writing vocabulary

If you want to save some time, scratch the meeting and write an email instead!

German	English translation	German example sentence	Meaning
Die E-mail	Email	Vielen Dank für Ihre E-Mail	Thank you for your email
Der Empfänger	Recipient	Behalten Sie Ihre Empfänger im Auge und schreiben Sie E-Mails, die beeindrucken.	Keep your recipients in mind and write emails that impress.
Der Absender	Sender	Der Absender ist der erste Eindruck deiner E-Mail.	The sender is the first impression of your email.
Die Anrede	A written greeting	Die Anrede in einer E-Mail ist wie ein Handschlag am Anfang eines Meetings.	The greeting in an email is like a handshake at the beginning of a meeting.
Liebe/r…	Dear…	Liebe Kollegen, lasst uns heute die Arbeit rocken!	Dear colleagues, let's rock the work today!
An alle, die es betrifft	To whom it may concern	An alle, die es betrifft, ich wünsche Ihnen allen hiermit schöne Feiertage.	To whom it may concern, I wish you all happy holidays.
Der Betreff	Subject	Der Betreff gibt einen Ausblick, worum es in der E-Mail geht.	The subject gives a preview of what the email is about.
Die Zusammenfassung	Summary	Jede E-Mail sollte eine kurze Zusammenfassung mit wichtigem Kontext enthalten.	Every email should include a short summary of the important context.
Die Kernaussage	Main message	Die Kernaussage meiner E-Mail war, dass sie einen rundum tollen Job macht!	The main message of my email was that she’s doing a great job all around!
Der Anhang	Attachment	Nicht vergessen, den Anhang anzuhängen!	Don't forget to attach the attachment!
Die Grüße	Regards	Mit freundlichen Grüßen	Kind regards

Sales, product, and marketing vocabulary

The key to most jobs is knowing your company’s product and believing in its value. These terms are going to be helpful:

German	English translation	German example sentence	Meaning
Der Umsatz	Revenue	Der Umsatz im letzten Quartal hat alle Erwartungen übertroffen.	The revenue in the last quarter exceeded all expectations.
Der Gewinn	Profit	Mit unserem neuen Produkt erzielen Sie einen höheren Gewinn.	With our new product, you will generate higher profits.
Die Rechnung	Invoice	Wir haben die Rechnung bereits beglichen.	We have already settled the invoice.
Das Produkt	Product	Ich stehe hinter unserem Produkt.	I stand behind our product.
Verhandeln	To negotiate	Um erfolgreich Geschäfte zu machen, ist es wichtig, zu verhandeln.	To negotiate is important to make successful business deals.
Überzeugen	To convince	Lassen Sie sich von mir überzeugen.	Let me convince you.
Der Rabatt	Discount	Bieten Sie irgendwelche Rabatte an?	Do you offer any discounts?
Das Sonderangebot	Special offer	Wir haben ein Sonderangebot.	We have a special offer.
Das Budget	Budget	Was ist Ihr Budget?	What is your budget?
Das Geschäft	Business	Es war mir eine Freude, mit Ihnen Geschäfte zu machen.	It was a pleasure doing business with you.

Other industry-specific vocabulary

Lastly, here’s a list of the most common industries in German, in case someone asks you what field you work in!

German	English
Die Bildung	Education
Das Gesundheitswesen	Healthcare
Die Technologie	Technology
Die Politik	Politics
Der Tourismus	Tourism
Die Buchhaltung	Accounting
Finanzdienstleistungen	Financial Services
Das Marketing	Marketing
Das Gastgewerbe	Hospitality
Das Dienstleistungsgewerbe	Service
Medien	Media
Logistik	Logistics
Das Rechtswesen	Legal
Die Architektur	Architecture
Der Handel	Commerce
Das Bauwesen	Construction
Der Transport	Transportation
Die Unterhaltung	Entertainment
Die Energie	Energy
Die Umwelt	Environment
Immobilien	Real Estate

Business culture

Now that you know all the important German business vocab, it’s time to take a closer look at German business culture including business etiquette and attire.

German business culture, etiquette, and attire

German business culture isn’t all that different from Canadian business culture - but if you look closely, you’ll spot some interesting facts:

Europeans tend to value culture, leisure and art over “the grind”

While it sometimes seems like Canadians live to work, Germans definitely rather work to live, meaning most people don’t see their job as their main focus in life. Of course, there are also companies with highly demanding work environments and employees who work beyond the 40 hours they’re supposed to - but that’s the exception.

Education is highly valued

Companies invest heavily in employee training and development, and advanced degrees and certifications are often required for top positions. As universities are free in Germany, you’re just expected to have a degree if you’re looking to work in certain fields.

Mental health is taken very seriously in the workplace

In Germany, employees are entitled to paid sick leave if they’re unable to work due to mental health issues as these are treated just like physical health issues.

One month a year is usually vacation time

Legally, German employers are obligated to allow at least 20 paid vacation days per year but only about 4% actually stop there. About 70% of German employees are offered at least 26 to 30 paid vacation days.

German maternity leave (Mutterschutz) lasts for 14 weeks

Starting six weeks before the due date and ending eight weeks after the birth of the baby, the mother receives her full pay from the employer and is not allowed to work.

After that, she (or the other parent) can choose to take an additional parental leave, which can last up to three years! For the first 14 months of parental leave, they receive about 65% of their pay from the government.

After that, they don’t get any money but the employer is obligated to hold a position for them, so they can either return to their former job or an equivalent position.

Business attire isn’t taken too seriously in Germany.

Yes, employers appreciate it if you wear a clean shirt for your job interview, preferably without holes, but that’s about it. Germans are generally known to value comfort and practicality over fashionability.

My best tip if you’re actually working in Germany is to dress appropriately for the weather. That means: Bring a scarf in winter and a hand fan in summer. Don’t expect to find an AC in your office!

5 tips on adapting to a new work culture

We know that’s a lot to remember, so here are 5 general tips that will save you in any new work environment.

1. Observe

Spend some time observing and listening to your colleagues to learn about the company's culture and work practices. This can help you understand what is expected of you and how you fit in the bigger picture.

2. Ask questions

Asking lots of questions will show that you’re interested in learning and understanding the company.

3. Invest in relationships

Take the initiative to make friends among your colleagues. This will help you feel comfortable and included. Plus, the more time you spend with your colleagues, the easier it will be to understand their ways of thinking.

4. Consider cross-cultural training

If you’re working in a culturally diverse environment and you feel like your company would benefit from professional training, it might be worth looking into corporate training services. These are designed to improve intercultural communication between global teams and focus on making the best of cultural differences.

5. Keep an open mind

Be flexible and respectful towards cultural differences. You may feel like the ways you’re used to are better but there usually is a reason people work the way they do. Maybe your way is faster but the way your new colleagues work is more thorough - or vice versa? Keep in mind that different workflows are often built on different values and one isn’t necessarily better than the other!

Of course, the most important part of understanding a foreign culture is understanding the language. So keep learning German on our entertaining and educational language learning blog.