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

You want one month of annual vacation, three years of parental leave and a bottle of beer after each work day? 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 a number of ways.

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

1. Always say what you mean
   Germans are known for a direct communication style that values honesty and straightforwardness. Be prepared for less smalltalk and more real talk.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. Punctuality is paramount
   For some people “9AM” can mean anything from 8:58 to 9:15 but in a German business context, it means 9AM sharp. If you show up to a 9AM 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.
5. “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!

Human resources vocabulary

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

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.

Business writing vocabulary

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

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:

For a more detailed look at signing off in emails, check out our helpful guide on saying goodbye in German!

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!

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 American business culture - but if you look closely, you’ll spot some interesting facts:

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

While it sometimes seems like Americans 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!

Just do the impossible

Speaking of business, it’s really insightful to take a look at two of the most famous companies in the world: Adidas and Nike. While they’re doing very similar things, Adidas is German and Nike is American and this shows in their image, their values and their slogans.

Adidas is the older one, valuing tradition, performance and sustainability. Their motto is “Impossible is nothing”, a romantic, slightly stilted call to go above and beyond. Their ways of operating usually come with a lot of strategic planning and coordination with the entire team.

Nike, on the other hand, stands for innovation, inspiration and creativity. Their famous motto is “Just do it” - a work attitude that couldn’t possibly be more American. It’s all about jumping right in and getting the job done, sometimes in ways that have never been done before.

If you’re looking for the best way to combine two different (work) cultures, keep what you value about your own culture but embrace the best parts of the new one. For example, if you combine the slogans of Adidas and Nike, you end up with some pretty good advice that’s more than just the sum of its parts: Just do the impossible!

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