Professions: A Comprehensive Guide (English & German)
Table of Contents
- Introduction
- Professions in German (male/female) with Pronunciations
- Key Grammar Notes About Professions
- Cultural Notes on Asking About Professions
- Common Professions
- Conversations: Questions & Responses About Work
- Where Do You Work?
- Applying for a Position (Sich um eine Stelle bewerben)
- Documents for Job Applications
- Useful Resources & Further Reading
Introduction
Knowing how to talk about professions is essential in everyday communication and particularly important when moving to or living in a German-speaking country. This guide helps you learn profession vocabulary in German, understand grammar related to occupations, navigate cultural differences, and engage in conversations related to work.
Professions in German (male/female) with Pronunciations
| German (male/female) | Pronunciation (English) | English Translation |
|---|
| Angestellter / Angestellte | OGG / OGG | employee |
| Anwalt / Anwältin | OGG / OGG | lawyer |
| Apotheker / -in | OGG / OGG | pharmacist, chemist |
| Architekt / -in | OGG / OGG | architect |
| Arzt / Ärztin | OGG / OGG | physician, doctor |
| Bauer / Bäuerin | OGG / OGG | farmer |
| Beamter / Beamtin | OGG / OGG | civil servant |
| Briefträger / -in | OGG / OGG | postman |
| Buchhalter / -in | OGG / OGG | accountant, bookkeeper |
| Busfahrer / -in | OGG / OGG | bus driver |
| Bäcker / -in | OGG / OGG | baker |
| Chemiker / -in | OGG / OGG | chemist |
| Chirurg / -in | OGG / OGG | surgeon |
| Dachdecker / -in | OGG | roofer |
| Diätassistentin | OGG | dietitian |
| Dekorateur / -in | OGG | decorator |
| Detektiv / -in | OGG / OGG | detective |
| DJ | OGG | DJ |
| Drucker / -in | OGG | printer |
| Drogist / -in | OGG | pharmacist/druggist |
| Dermatologe / Dermatologin | OGG / OGG | dermatologist |
| Dirigent / -in | OGG / OGG | conductor |
| Dompteur / -in | OGG / OGG | animal trainer |
| Dolmetscher / -in | OGG / OGG | interpreter |
| Elektriker / -in | OGG / OGG | electrician |
| Fernfahrer / -in | OGG / OGG | long-distance truck driver |
| Feuerwehrmann / Feuerwehrfrau | OGG | firefighter |
| Fischer / -in | OGG | fisher |
| Fleischer / -in | OGG / OGG | butcher |
| Fremdenführer / -in | OGG / OGG | tourist guide |
| Friseur / -in, Friseuse | OGG / OGG, OGG | hairdresser |
| Gärtner / -in | OGG / OGG | horticulturist |
| Handwerker / -in | OGG / OGG | craftsman |
| Hotelfachmann/Hotelfachfrau | - | hotel manager |
| Ingenieur / -in | OGG / OGG | engineer |
| Journalist / -in | OGG / OGG | journalist |
| Kaufmann / Kauffrau | OGG / OGG | merchant, businessman |
| Kassierer / -in | OGG / OGG | cashier |
| Krankenpfleger / Krankenschwester | OGG / OGG | male nurse / nurse |
| Kellner / -in | OGG / OGG | waiter / waitress |
| Koch / Köchin | OGG / OGG | cook |
| Lehrer / -in | OGG / OGG | teacher |
| Maler / -in | OGG / OGG | painter |
| Mathematiker / -in | OGG / OGG | mathematician |
| Mechaniker / -in | OGG / OGG | mechanic |
| Metzger / -in | OGG | butcher |
| Musiker / -in | OGG / OGG | musician |
| Pastor / -in | OGG / OGG | priest |
| Pfarrer / -in | OGG / OGG | priest |
| Physiker / -in | OGG / OGG | physicist |
| Politiker / -in | OGG / OGG | politician |
| Polizist / -in | OGG / OGG | policeman, police officer |
| Programmierer / -in | OGG / OGG | programmer |
| Psychiater / -in | OGG / OGG | psychiatrist |
| Putzfrau (Raumpfleger/Reinigungskraft) | OGG | cleaning woman / cleaner |
| Rechtsanwalt / Rechtsanwältin | OGG / OGG | lawyer, attorney-at-law |
| Reporter / -in | OGG / OGG | reporter |
| Richter / -in | OGG / OGG | judge |
| Schauspieler / -in | OGG / OGG | actor/actress |
| Schriftsteller / -in | OGG / OGG | writer, author |
| Sekretär / -in | OGG / OGG | secretary |
| Sportler / -in | OGG / OGG | sportsman |
| Soldat / -in | OGG / OGG | soldier |
| Tierarzt / Tierärztin | OGG / OGG | veterinarian |
| Tänzer / -in | OGG / OGG | dancer |
| Verkäufer / -in | OGG / OGG | salesperson |
| Vertreter / -in | OGG / OGG | representative |
| Winzer / -in | OGG / OGG | winemaker |
| Zahnarzt / Zahnärztin | OGG / OGG | dentist |
| Übersetzer / -in | OGG / OGG | translator |
| Chef / -in | OGG / OGG | boss |
| Student / -in | OGG / OGG | student |
Key Grammar Notes
-
In German, you usually omit the indefinite article ("a" or "an") when stating your profession:
- Ich bin Student. (I am a student.)
- Er ist Architekt. (He is an architect.)
-
Only use "ein" / "eine" if you add an adjective:
- Er ist ein guter Student. (He is a good student.)
- Sie ist eine neue Architektin. (She is a new architect.)
Cultural Notes
- Asking "Was sind Sie von Beruf?" (What is your profession?) is polite but not common small talk in Germany. Germans may find asking about jobs right away as intrusive.
- Small talk usually focuses on other topics before moving to professions.
Common Professions (Summary)
| English | German |
|---|
| Architect | der Architekt |
| Auto Mechanic | der Automechaniker |
| Baker | der Bäcker |
| Bank Teller | der Bankangestellte |
| Bricklayer | der Maurer |
| Broker | der Makler |
| Bus Driver | der Busfahrer |
| Programmer | der Programmierer |
| Cook / Chef | der Koch / die Köchin |
| Doctor / Physician | der Arzt / die Ärztin |
| Employee (white-collar) | der Angestellte |
| Nurse | der Krankenpfleger / die Krankenschwester |
| Photographer | der Fotograf |
| Secretary | der Sekretär |
| Student | der Student |
| Taxi Driver | der Taxifahrer |
| Teacher | der Lehrer |
| Waiter / Waitress | der Kellner / die Kellnerin |
Conversations: Questions & Responses
| English Question | German Question | Sample Answer (German) | English Translation |
|---|
| What's your occupation? | Was sind Sie von Beruf? | Ich bin Lehrer. | I am a teacher. |
| What do you do for a living? | Was machen Sie beruflich? | Ich arbeite bei einer Bank. | I work at a bank. |
| What does he/she do? | Was macht er/sie beruflich? | Er ist Arzt. | He is a doctor. |
| Where do you work? | Wo arbeiten Sie? | Ich arbeite bei Siemens. | I work at Siemens. |
| Where does a nurse work? | Wo arbeitet eine Krankenschwester? | Im Krankenhaus. | In the hospital. |
| At which company does he work? | Bei welcher Firma arbeitet er? | Er ist bei Daimler. | He works at Daimler. |
Where Do You Work?
| English | German Expression |
|---|
| at Deutsche Bank | bei der Deutschen Bank |
| at home | zu Hause |
| at McDonald's | bei McDonald's |
| at the office | im Büro |
| in a garage | in der Autowerkstatt |
| in a hospital | im Krankenhaus |
| with a big company | bei einem großen Unternehmen |
| with a small company | bei einem kleinen Unternehmen |
Applying for a Position (Sich um eine Stelle bewerben)
| English | German Phrase |
|---|
| I want to apply for this job. | Ich möchte mich um diese Stelle bewerben. |
| How do I apply? | Wie bewerbe ich mich? |
| Please send your CV and cover letter. | Bitte senden Sie Ihren Lebenslauf und Ihr Anschreiben. |
| Do you have a job vacancy? | Haben Sie eine freie Stelle? |
| I am interested in this position. | Ich bin an dieser Stelle interessiert. |
| What are the requirements? | Was sind die Anforderungen? |
| When can I start? | Wann kann ich anfangen? |
Documents for Job Applications
| Document | German |
|---|
| Curriculum Vitae (CV) | der Lebenslauf |
| Cover Letter | das Anschreiben |
| References | die Referenzen |
| Certificates | die Zeugnisse |
| Diploma | das Diplom |
| Portfolio | das Portfolio |
| Employment Certificate | das Arbeitszeugnis |
Useful Resources & Further Reading
If you want, I can create additional practice exercises or dialogues based on this content. Just ask!