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Vocab: Work & office — A1 (2)
Work & office vocabulary at A1 level.
Maskulin Feminin Neutrum Plural
die Stelle — place, spot, point; job, position
Die Stelle is a specific place or point, often within a larger area, text, or situation. The fixed phrase an dieser Stelle means “at this point” and uses the dative after an.
Die Stelle ist frei.
The spot is free.
frei means free or unoccupied. Die Stelle is nominative because it is the subject, and frei is predicative after sein, so it has no adjective ending.
Ich kenne die Stelle gut.
I know the place well.
ich kenne means I know, and gut means well. Die Stelle is accusative because kennen takes a direct object; gut is an adverb and does not describe a noun here.
Wir treffen uns an der Stelle.
We are meeting at the spot.
wir treffen uns means we are meeting each other, and an der Stelle means at the spot. An takes the dative for a fixed location, so der Stelle is dative; uns is the reflexive object of treffen.
Die genaue Lage der Stelle ist unbekannt.
The exact location of the spot is unknown.
die genaue Lage means the exact location, and unbekannt means unknown. Der Stelle is genitive and means “of the spot”; die genaue Lage der Stelle is the nominative subject.
An mehreren Stellen ist der Weg kaputt.
In several places, the path is damaged.
mehreren means several, der Weg means the path, and kaputt means damaged or broken. An mehreren Stellen is dative plural because an describes location here; the plural ending -n is already part of Stellen.
Sie sucht eine neue Stelle.
She is looking for a new job.
sie sucht means she is looking for, and eine neue means a new. Eine neue Stelle is accusative because suchen takes a direct object; the feminine adjective has the ending -e after eine.
Er hat eine Stelle bei einer Bank gefunden.
He found a job at a bank.
er hat ... gefunden means he found, bei einer Bank means at a bank, and gefunden is the Partizip II of finden. Eine Stelle is accusative as the object of gefunden, while bei einer Bank is dative because bei always takes the dative.
der Stift — pen; pencil; trainee; inexperienced young person
The masculine noun der Stift means a writing instrument. Do not confuse it with neuter das Stift, which means a religious foundation or institution.
Der Stift ist blau.
The pen is blue.
blau means blue. Der Stift is nominative because it is the subject, and ist stands in position two.
Ich nehme den Stift.
I am taking the pen.
nehme means am taking. Den Stift is accusative because nehmen takes a direct object, and the finite verb nehme is in position two.
Ich schreibe mit dem Stift.
I am writing with the pen.
schreibe means am writing and mit means with. Dem Stift is dative because mit always takes the dative; do not use den after mit.
Die Farbe des Stifts ist dunkelblau.
The colour of the pen is dark blue.
die Farbe means the colour and dunkelblau means dark blue. Des Stifts is genitive because it shows which pen the colour belongs to.
Die Stifte liegen auf dem Tisch.
The pens are lying on the table.
liegen means are lying and auf dem Tisch means on the table. Stifte is plural with die understood here, and auf dem Tisch is dative because it describes a location.
Der neue Stift lernt schnell.
The new trainee learns quickly.
neu means new and lernt schnell means learns quickly. Der neue Stift is nominative as the subject, and lernt stands in position two.
Der Chef erklärt dem Stift die Aufgabe.
The boss explains the task to the trainee.
der Chef is the boss and die Aufgabe is the task. Dem Stift is dative for the person receiving the explanation, while die Aufgabe is accusative; erklärt is in position two.
der Sänger — singer (male)
This word refers specifically to a male singer; the feminine form is die Sängerin.
Der Sänger steht auf der Bühne.
The singer is standing on the stage.
die Bühne means stage. Der Sänger is nominative because he is the subject, and the finite verb steht is in position two.
Ich höre den Sänger im Radio.
I hear the singer on the radio.
hören means to hear and das Radio means radio. Den Sänger is accusative because hören takes a direct object; the finite verb höre is in position two.
Ich gebe dem Sänger eine Blume.
I give the singer a flower.
geben means to give and die Blume means flower. Dem Sänger is dative for the recipient, while eine Blume is accusative as the thing given.
Die Stimme des Sängers ist kräftig.
The singer's voice is powerful.
die Stimme means voice and kräftig means powerful. Des Sängers is genitive because it shows possession; the masculine noun adds -s after des.
Die Sänger singen ein neues Lied.
The singers are singing a new song.
singen means to sing and ein neues Lied means a new song. Die Sänger is the plural subject, and the finite verb singen is in position two.
der Termin — appointment, scheduled date; appointment, especially with a doctor or office
In everyday German, Termin usually means an arranged appointment, not simply any date on the calendar. It is often used with haben, vereinbaren, or absagen.
Der Termin ist am Montag.
The appointment is on Monday.
Montag means Monday. Der Termin is nominative because it is the subject; the finite verb ist stands in position two.
Ich habe den Termin vergessen.
I forgot the appointment.
Ich means I, habe means have, and vergessen means forgotten. Den Termin is accusative because vergessen takes a direct object, while the finite verb habe is in position two.
Ich komme zu dem Termin pünktlich.
I will arrive at the appointment on time.
kommen means to come, and pünktlich means on time. The preposition zu forces the dative, so dem Termin is dative; the finite verb komme is in position two.
Die Uhrzeit des Termins steht in der E-Mail.
The time of the appointment is in the email.
Die Uhrzeit means the time, steht means is written or stands, and die E-Mail means the email. Des Termins is genitive because it identifies whose time it is, and the finite verb steht is in position two.
Für diese Woche habe ich drei Termine.
I have three appointments this week.
Für means for, diese Woche means this week, and drei means three. Termine is plural and accusative because für forces the accusative; the finite verb habe is in position two.
Ich brauche einen Termin beim Arzt.
I need an appointment with the doctor.
Ich brauche means I need, brauchen means to need, and beim Arzt means at the doctor’s. Einen Termin is accusative because brauchen takes a direct object; beim is short for bei dem, and bei forces the dative.
Der Arzt gibt mir einen neuen Termin.
The doctor gives me a new appointment.
Der Arzt is the doctor, gibt means gives, mir means to me, and neuen means new. Mir is dative for the recipient, while einen neuen Termin is accusative as the thing given; gibt is in position two.
der Verkäufer — sales assistant, seller (male)
The feminine form is Verkäuferin. In a shop, Verkäufer usually means a sales assistant, while in business it can also mean a seller.
Der Verkäufer arbeitet in einem großen Geschäft.
The sales assistant works in a large shop.
das Geschäft means shop, and groß means large. Der Verkäufer is nominative because he is the subject; the finite verb arbeitet is in position two.
Ich sehe den Verkäufer jeden Samstag.
I see the sales assistant every Saturday.
sehen means to see, and jeden Samstag means every Saturday. Den Verkäufer is accusative because sehen takes a direct object; the finite verb sehe stands in position two.
Ich frage dem Verkäufer nach dem Preis.
I ask the sales assistant about the price.
fragen means to ask, and der Preis means the price. In this sentence, dem Verkäufer is dative because the person asked is treated as the indirect object; learners should not confuse this with the accusative in jemanden fragen.
Das Handy des Verkäufers liegt auf dem Tisch.
The sales assistant’s mobile phone is lying on the table.
das Handy means mobile phone, and liegen means to lie or be situated. Des Verkäufers is genitive to show possession, and the finite verb liegt is in position two.
Die Verkäufer helfen den Kunden.
The sales assistants help the customers.
helfen means to help, and die Kunden means the customers. Verkäufer has the same form in the singular and plural, but die and the plural verb helfen show the plural; den Kunden is dative because helfen takes the dative.
die Verkäuferin — sales assistant, seller (female)
Verkäuferin is the feminine form of Verkäufer. Its plural is formed with -innen, not simply -in.
Die Verkäuferin arbeitet heute.
The sales assistant is working today.
heute means today, and arbeiten means to work. Die Verkäuferin is nominative because she is the subject; the finite verb arbeitet stands in position two.
Ich sehe die Verkäuferin im Supermarkt.
I see the sales assistant in the supermarket.
sehen means to see, and der Supermarkt means the supermarket. Die Verkäuferin is accusative because sehen takes a direct object; the feminine article die looks the same in nominative and accusative.
Ich helfe der Verkäuferin mit den Kisten.
I help the sales assistant with the crates.
helfen means to help, and die Kisten means the crates. Der Verkäuferin is dative because helfen always takes the dative; mit also requires the dative.
Die Tasche der Verkäuferin ist neu.
The sales assistant’s bag is new.
die Tasche means the bag, and neu means new. Der Verkäuferin is genitive to show possession; with a feminine noun, the noun itself does not change in the genitive.
Die Verkäuferinnen begrüßen die Kunden.
The sales assistants welcome the customers.
begrüßen means to welcome, and die Kunden means the customers. Verkäuferinnen is plural because -in becomes -innen, and the plural verb begrüßen stands in position two.
der Vermieter — landlord
The plural die Vermieter is unchanged from the singular noun. The feminine form is die Vermieterin.
Der Vermieter wohnt im selben Haus.
The landlord lives in the same building.
das selbe Haus means the same building. Der Vermieter is nominative because he is the subject; the finite verb wohnt is in position two.
Ich kenne den Vermieter gut.
I know the landlord well.
kennen means to know a person, and gut means well. Den Vermieter is accusative because kennen takes a direct object; the finite verb kenne stands in position two.
Ich spreche morgen mit dem Vermieter.
I am speaking with the landlord tomorrow.
morgen means tomorrow, and mit means with. Dem Vermieter is dative because mit always takes the dative; the finite verb spreche is in position two.
Das Auto des Vermieters steht vor dem Haus.
The landlord's car is parked in front of the house.
das Auto means car, steht means is standing or is parked, and vor dem Haus means in front of the house. Des Vermieters is genitive because it shows possession, and the masculine noun takes -s in the genitive.
Die Vermieter treffen sich heute.
The landlords are meeting today.
treffen sich means meet each other, and heute means today. Vermieter is the plural form with no ending; the plural subject takes die, and treffen is in position two.
die Vermieterin — landlady; female landlord
Vermieterin is the feminine form of der Vermieter. Its plural is Vermieterinnen, with the ending -innen.
Die Vermieterin kommt um sechs Uhr.
The landlady is coming at six o'clock.
kommt means is coming, and um sechs Uhr means at six o'clock. Die Vermieterin is nominative because she is the subject; the finite verb kommt is in position two.
Ich kenne die Vermieterin gut.
I know the landlady well.
kennen means to know a person, and gut means well. Die Vermieterin is accusative because kennen takes a direct object; the feminine article die looks the same in nominative and accusative.
Ich spreche morgen mit der Vermieterin.
I am speaking with the landlady tomorrow.
morgen means tomorrow, and mit means with. Der Vermieterin is dative because mit always takes the dative; the feminine article changes from die to der.
Die Wohnung der Vermieterin ist sehr hell.
The landlady's flat is very bright.
die Wohnung means the flat, and hell means bright. Der Vermieterin is genitive because it shows possession; feminine nouns keep the ending -in, while the article is der.
Die Vermieterinnen treffen sich heute.
The landladies are meeting today.
treffen sich means meet each other, and heute means today. Vermieterinnen is formed with -innen, the regular feminine plural ending; the plural subject takes die.
die Visitenkarte — business card
Die Visitenkarte liegt auf dem Tisch.
The business card is on the table.
liegen means to be lying, and der Tisch means table. auf dem Tisch is dative because auf describes a fixed location here, and the finite verb liegt is in position two.
Ich brauche die Visitenkarte.
I need the business card.
brauchen means to need. die Visitenkarte is accusative because brauchen takes a direct object, while the finite verb brauche stands in position two.
Ich gebe meiner Kollegin die Visitenkarte.
I give my colleague the business card.
geben means to give, and meiner Kollegin means my female colleague. The recipient is dative, while die Visitenkarte is accusative as the thing given.
Die Rückseite der Visitenkarte ist leer.
The back of the business card is blank.
die Rückseite means the back side, and leer means blank or empty. der Visitenkarte is genitive because it identifies whose back side it is; the finite verb ist is in position two.
Ich habe gestern drei Visitenkarten bekommen.
I received three business cards yesterday.
gestern means yesterday, and bekommen means to receive. drei Visitenkarten is a plural accusative object after bekommen; the participle bekommen goes to the end with habe.
die Werkstatt — workshop; repair shop
Werkstatt can mean a craftsman's workshop or a vehicle repair shop. Its plural is Werkstätten, with an umlaut and -en; do not use the regular-looking form Werkstatten without the umlaut.
Die Werkstatt öffnet um acht Uhr.
The workshop opens at eight o'clock.
öffnet means opens and um acht Uhr means at eight o'clock. Die Werkstatt is nominative because it is the subject, and the finite verb öffnet stands in position two.
Ich suche die Werkstatt.
I am looking for the workshop.
suche means am looking for. die Werkstatt is accusative because suchen takes a direct object; with a feminine noun, the nominative and accusative articles are both die.
Ich bin in der Werkstatt.
I am in the workshop.
bin means am and in der Werkstatt means in the workshop. der Werkstatt is dative because in describes a fixed location; the feminine dative article is der.
Die Tür der Werkstatt ist offen.
The workshop door is open.
die Tür means the door and offen means open. der Werkstatt is genitive because it shows whose door it is; the feminine genitive article is der, and ist is in position two.
In unserer Stadt gibt es drei Werkstätten.
There are three workshops in our city.
in unserer Stadt means in our city, gibt es means there are, and drei means three. Werkstätten is the plural after drei; it has an umlaut and -en, and gibt es keeps the verb in position two.
das Werkzeug — tool; tool; means or instrument
Das Werkzeug can mean one tool or tools in general. The plural is die Werkzeuge; it is also used figuratively for something that helps achieve a purpose.
Das Werkzeug liegt in der Garage.
The tool is in the garage.
liegen means to be lying or to be located, and die Garage is the garage. Das Werkzeug is nominative because it is the subject; the finite verb liegt is in position two.
Ich brauche ein Werkzeug.
I need a tool.
brauchen means to need. Ein Werkzeug is accusative because brauchen takes a direct object; the neuter article stays ein, and brauche stands in position two.
Ich repariere das Fahrrad mit einem Werkzeug.
I repair the bicycle with a tool.
reparieren means to repair, and das Fahrrad is the bicycle. Mit einem Werkzeug is dative because mit always takes the dative; das Fahrrad is accusative as the object of repariere.
Der Griff des Werkzeugs ist kaputt.
The handle of the tool is broken.
der Griff means the handle, and kaputt means broken. Des Werkzeugs is genitive because it identifies the tool whose handle is meant; the finite verb ist is in position two.
Die Werkzeuge liegen auf dem Tisch.
The tools are on the table.
liegen means are lying or are located, and der Tisch is the table. Werkzeuge is plural nominative because it is the subject; auf dem Tisch is dative because it describes location, not movement.
Sprache ist ein wichtiges Werkzeug.
Language is an important tool.
Sprache means language, and wichtig means important. Ein wichtiges Werkzeug follows sein as a nominative predicate; the adjective ending -es agrees with the neuter noun, and ist is in position two.
Das Internet dient als Werkzeug für die Forschung.
The internet serves as a tool for research.
dienen means to serve, and die Forschung means research. Als Werkzeug describes the function of the internet, while für die Forschung is accusative because für always takes the accusative.
die Ärztin — female doctor, doctor
The usual gender-neutral word is der Arzt, while die Ärztin specifically means a woman doctor. The plural ending is -innen, not just -in.
Die Ärztin untersucht den Patienten.
The doctor examines the patient.
untersuchen means to examine, and der Patient is the patient. Die Ärztin is nominative because she is the subject; den Patienten is accusative because it is the direct object.
Ich rufe die Ärztin an.
I am calling the doctor.
anrufen means to call, and rufe ... an is its split present form. Die Ärztin is accusative as the object, while the finite verb rufe is in position two and an goes to the end.
Ich vertraue der Ärztin.
I trust the doctor.
vertrauen means to trust. It takes a dative person, so der Ärztin is dative; the feminine dative article is der, not die.
Das Auto der Ärztin steht vor dem Haus.
The doctor's car is parked in front of the house.
das Auto means the car, and steht vor dem Haus means is standing in front of the house. Der Ärztin is genitive because it shows possession, while vor dem Haus uses dative for a fixed location.
Die Ärztinnen arbeiten im Krankenhaus.
The doctors work in the hospital.
arbeiten means work, and das Krankenhaus is the hospital. Ärztinnen is the plural with -innen; im Krankenhaus means in dem Krankenhaus and uses dative for location.