"Arbeitsvertrag" is masculine in German — the correct article is der. The plural is die Arbeitsverträge. In English, Arbeitsvertrag means "employment contract"."Der Arbeitsvertrag" is one of the first words you'll need when starting a job in a German-speaking country. It's part of core business German vocabulary and is typically learned at A2–B1 level. The word is a compound of "Arbeit" (work) + "Vertrag" (contract). Below you'll find the full declension, example sentences, and a quiz.
Gender rule: In German compounds, the last component determines the gender. The last part here is "der Vertrag" (contract) — masculine. So: der Arbeitsvertrag. See all gender patterns in the Article Rules and a full overview at the German Articles.
Arbeitsvertrag — Declension Table
| Case | Singular | Plural |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | der Arbeitsvertrag | die Arbeitsverträge |
| Genitive | des Arbeitsvertrags | der Arbeitsverträge |
| Dative | dem Arbeitsvertrag | den Arbeitsverträgen |
| Accusative | den Arbeitsvertrag | die Arbeitsverträge |
Example Sentences with Arbeitsvertrag
Der Arbeitsvertrag beginnt am 1. April.
(The employment contract starts on April 1st.) — Nominative
Sie hat den Arbeitsvertrag gestern unterschrieben.
(She signed the employment contract yesterday.) — Accusative
Die Kündigungsfrist steht im Arbeitsvertrag.
(The notice period is stated in the employment contract.) — Dative
Die Laufzeit des Arbeitsvertrags beträgt zwei Jahre.
(The duration of the employment contract is two years.) — Genitive
Die Arbeitsverträge müssen bis Freitag fertig sein.
(The employment contracts must be ready by Friday.) — Nominative Plural
In den Arbeitsverträgen sind unterschiedliche Gehälter festgelegt.
(Different salaries are specified in the employment contracts.) — Dative Plural
Related Words & Compounds
Word family (Wortfamilie): vertraglich (contractual — adjective), der Vertrag (contract — base noun)
Compounds with Vertrag (Komposita): der Mietvertrag (rental contract), der Kaufvertrag (purchase contract), der Werkvertrag (contract for work and services)
Common Mistake with Arbeitsvertrag
❌ Common mistake: Die Arbeitsvertrage sind befristet.
✅ Correct: Die Arbeitsverträge sind befristet.
💡 Why: The plural of Arbeitsvertrag requires an Umlaut: Arbeitsverträge — not "Arbeitsvertrage." This Umlaut pattern applies to many masculine nouns: der Vertrag → die Verträge, der Antrag → die Anträge. Forgetting the Umlaut is a common spelling mistake, even among intermediate learners.
Quick Quiz: Test Your Knowledge
Can you get all three right? Apply what you've learned above.
1. Die Kündigungsfrist steht in ___ Arbeitsvertrag.
- A) der Arbeitsvertrag
- B) den Arbeitsvertrag
- C) dem Arbeitsvertrag
Check Answer
The preposition in takes the dative when describing a location (where something is). Masculine dative = dem: in dem Arbeitsvertrag (short form: im Arbeitsvertrag).
2. Der Anwalt hat ___ Arbeitsvertrag sorgfältig geprüft.
- A) dem Arbeitsvertrag
- B) des Arbeitsvertrags
- C) den Arbeitsvertrag
Check Answer
"Prüfen" takes an accusative object (what did the lawyer check?). Masculine accusative with the definite article = den Arbeitsvertrag.
3. Sie hat einen befristet___ Arbeitsvertrag unterschrieben.
- A) -e
- B) -en
- C) -er
Check Answer
After the indefinite article einen in the accusative masculine, the adjective ending is -en: einen befristeten Arbeitsvertrag. In the accusative masculine, both the article and the adjective signal the gender.
Want to practice more nouns like this? The Article Trainer has 600+ nouns to drill — including everyday vocabulary. Pick the article, get instant feedback, and stop guessing.
More Work & Business Nouns
- der Arbeitgeber — the employer
- der Arbeitnehmer — the employee
- der Kollege — the colleague
- der Kunde — the customer
- der Chef — the boss
- das Gehalt — the salary
- die Kündigung — the termination/resignation
- die Firma — the company
For more work-related vocabulary, explore the Business German vocabulary list or browse the full grammar overview.
Is it der, die, or das? Practice makes perfect.
The Article Trainer gives you 600+ nouns to drill — including everyday vocabulary. Pick the article, get instant feedback, and stop guessing.
Practice German Articles →Frequently Asked Questions
Is Arbeitsvertrag masculine, feminine, or neuter in German?
Arbeitsvertrag is masculine — the correct article is der. In German compounds, the last component determines the gender. The last part is "der Vertrag" (contract), which is masculine — so: der Arbeitsvertrag.
What is the plural of Arbeitsvertrag?
The plural is die Arbeitsverträge — with an Umlaut (a → ä). Don't forget the Umlaut — "Arbeitsvertrage" without the dots is incorrect. In the dative plural, add -n: den Arbeitsverträgen.
How do you say "employment contract" in German?
The German word for "employment contract" is der Arbeitsvertrag. It's a compound of "Arbeit" (work) and "Vertrag" (contract). You might also hear der Anstellungsvertrag, which means the same thing but is used less frequently in everyday language.
What is the difference between befristet and unbefristet?
A befristeter Arbeitsvertrag is a fixed-term contract — it has a specific end date. An unbefristeter Arbeitsvertrag is a permanent contract — it has no end date and continues until one party gives notice. In Germany, most employees aim for an unbefristeter Arbeitsvertrag because it offers more job security.
