Learn basic German vocabulary for occupations
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| Verkäufer |
| Ingenieur |
| Programmierer |
| What do these words mean? Stick around. |
| In this quick lesson, you’ll learn German vocabulary for occupations. |
| Before we start, did you know there’s a traditional German occupation dedicated to building and restoring musical instruments? Do you know what it is? |
| Keep watching for the answer at the end. |
| Angestellter |
| "employee" |
| [SLOW] Angestellter |
| Angestellter |
| The German word "Angestellter" literally translates to "one who is placed at" or "appointed,". |
| Vanessa and Steve discuss their work environment. |
| Vanessa: Die Angestellten mögen ihre Arbeit. |
| Steve: Das freut mich! |
| Verkäufer |
| "salesperson" |
| [SLOW] Verkäufer |
| Verkäufer |
| In essence, a "Verkäufer" is someone who facilitates transactions, but the word itself is rooted in the Old High German "firkeifan," meaning "to hand over" or "to sell." |
| Tom talks to Marvin about a recent visit to a car dealership. |
| Tom: Der Verkäufer hat mir viele Autos gezeigt. |
| Marvin: Hast du eines der Autos gemocht, die er dir gezeigt hat? |
| Ingenieur |
| "engineer" |
| [SLOW] Ingenieur |
| Ingenieur |
| The term "Ingenieur" is derived from the Latin word "ingenium," meaning "cleverness" or “ingenuity”. |
| Lina discusses a friend's career with Susan. |
| Lina: Meine Freundin ist sehr klug. Sie ist eine gute Ingenieurin. |
| Susan: Ingenieurin zu sein ist schwierig. Sie muss talentiert sein. |
| Programmierer |
| "programmer" |
| [SLOW] Programmierer |
| Programmierer |
| The German word "Programmierer" is one of the few professions where the English term "programmer" is often used interchangeably, |
| Steve tells Lotta about a recent issue at work. |
| Steve: Wir hatten ein Problem mit unserer Webseite, aber der Programmierer hat es repariert. |
| Lotta: Ich bin froh, dass jetzt alles in Ordnung ist. |
| Bauer |
| "farmer" |
| [SLOW] Bauer |
| Bauer |
| The German word "Bauer" is a great example of a polyseme: it can mean "farmer" (as in "Bauernhof," or farm) or "builder" (as in "Vogelbauer," a birdhouse), highlighting the word's connection to creating or cultivating. |
| Tom tells Boris about a visit to a farm. |
| Tom: Gestern habe ich einen Bauernhof gesehen. Der Bauer hatte viele Kühe. |
| Boris: Das klingt nach einem großen Bauernhof. |
| Sekretärin |
| "secretary" |
| [SLOW] Sekretärin |
| Sekretärin |
| In some European countries, including Germany, the role of a "Sekretärin" was often one of the few professional opportunities for women in the mid-20th century, offering a path into office work. |
| Aylin tells Robert about her workplace. |
| Aylin: Unsere Sekretärin ist immer beschäftigt. |
| Robert: Es ist wichtig, eine gute Sekretärin zu haben. |
| Banker |
| "banker" |
| [SLOW] Banker |
| Banker |
| The term "Banker" is derived from the Italian word "banca," meaning "bench," which refers to the medieval practice of moneylenders conducting transactions on benches in market places. |
| Marvin discusses financial matters with Vanessa. |
| Marvin: Ich habe einen Banker nach dem Kredit gefragt. |
| Vanessa: Was hat der Banker gesagt? |
| Let's review. |
| You'll see the words in English and your job is to say the words in German. |
| Ready? |
| Do you remember how to say "employee"? |
| Angestellter |
| Angestellter |
| And how to say "salesperson"? |
| Verkäufer |
| Verkäufer |
| How about "engineer"? |
| Ingenieur |
| Ingenieur |
| Do you remember how to say "programmer"? |
| Programmierer |
| Programmierer |
| And how to say "farmer"? |
| Bauer |
| Bauer |
| Let's try "secretary"! |
| Sekretärin |
| Sekretärin |
| And finally, do you remember how to say "banker"? |
| Banker |
| Banker |
| Did you know there’s a traditional German occupation dedicated to building and restoring musical instruments? Do you know what it is? |
| It’s the profession of an organ builder! Germany has a rich history of organ music, and German organ builders are highly respected for their expertise in creating and restoring pipe organs. These artisans need to know a lot about music, as well as how to work with wood and metal. This job keeps Germany’s musical traditions alive! |
| Thanks for watching! Don't forget to practice these new words and phrases, and see you next time! |
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