Table of Contents
Business German vocabulary is essential for anyone who wants to work in a German-speaking company or communicate professionally in German. Whether you are applying for a job, preparing for a meeting, or reading a contract, knowing the right terms will help you understand and participate more confidently.
In this guide, you will learn the most important business-related German words and phrases used in real-life situations. From die Bewerbung (the application) to das Unternehmen (the company), this vocabulary will support your progress in everyday office communication, emails, presentations, and more.
Key Business German Words
Below is a list of key business German vocabulary words, suitable for learners at the B1-B2 levels. These terms will help you navigate professional environments and understand business communications more effectively.
- der Arbeitgeber / die Arbeitgeberin (the employer)
- der Arbeitnehmer / die Arbeitnehmerin (the employee)
- der Arbeitsvertrag (the employment contract)
- die Aufgabe (the task)
- der Bericht (the report)
- die Beförderung (the promotion)
- die Besprechung (the meeting)
- die Bewerbung (the application)
- das Budget (the budget)
- das Büro (the office)
- der Chef / die Chefin (the boss)
- die Fortbildung (the further training)
- die Frist (the deadline)
- der Gewinn (the profit)
- die Investition (the investment)
- die Kündigungsfrist (the notice period)
- der Kunde / die Kundin (the customer – male/female)
- der Leiter / die Leiterin (the leader – male/female)
- der Lieferant (the supplier)
- das Marketing (the marketing)
- die Präsentation (the presentation)
- das Projekt (the project)
- die Rechnung (the invoice)
- die Schulung (the training)
- das Team (the team)
- der Umsatz (the revenue)
- das Unternehmen (the company)
- die Vereinbarung (the agreement)
- der Verlust (the loss)
- die Verhandlung (the negotiation)
- der Verkauf (the sale)
- der Vertrag (the contract)
- das Ziel (the goal)
Business Vocabulary Phrases in Use
To help you grasp how these terms are used in real-life situations, here are example sentences with their English translations.
| German Word | German Example Sentence | English Translation |
|---|---|---|
| der Arbeitgeber/die Arbeitgeberin | Mein Arbeitgeber bietet flexible Arbeitszeiten an. | My employer offers flexible working hours. |
| der Arbeitnehmer/die Arbeitnehmerin | Tina ist eine fleißige Arbeitnehmerin. | Tina is a hard-working employee. |
| der Arbeitsvertrag | Ich habe den Arbeitsvertrag gestern unterschrieben. | I signed the employment contract yesterday. |
| die Aufgabe | Diese Aufgabe muss bis Freitag erledigt werden. | This task must be completed by Friday. |
| der Bericht | Er hat den Bericht an den Chef gesendet. | He sent the report to the boss. |
| die Beförderung | Sie hofft auf eine Beförderung im nächsten Jahr. | She hopes for a promotion next year. |
| die Besprechung | Die Besprechung findet um 10 Uhr im Konferenzraum statt. | The meeting takes place at 10 o’clock in the conference room. |
| die Bewerbung | Er hat seine Bewerbung an mehrere Unternehmen geschickt. | He sent his application to several companies. |
| das Budget | Wir müssen das Budget für das Projekt planen. | We need to plan the budget for the project. |
| das Büro | Ich arbeite in einem großen Büro im Stadtzentrum. | I work in a large office in the city center. |
| der Chef/die Chefin | Der Chef hat heute ein Meeting mit dem Team. | The boss has a meeting with the team today. |
| die Fortbildung | Die Fortbildung hilft uns, neue Fähigkeiten zu erlernen. | The further training helps us to learn new skills. |
| die Frist | Die Frist für die Abgabe des Berichts ist morgen. | The deadline for submitting the report is tomorrow. |
| der Gewinn | Unser Gewinn ist dieses Quartal gestiegen. | Our profit increased this quarter. |
| die Investition | Das Unternehmen plant eine Investition in neue Technologien. | The company plans an investment in new technologies. |
| die Kündigungsfrist | Die Kündigungsfrist beträgt zwei Wochen. | The notice period is two weeks. |
| der Kunde / die Kundin | Unsere Kunden sind mit unserem Service zufrieden. | Our customers are satisfied with our service. |
| der Leiter / die Leiterin | Die Projektleiterin hat das Meeting geleitet. | The project leader led the meeting. |
| der Lieferant | Wir warten auf die Lieferung vom Lieferanten. | We are waiting for the delivery from the supplier. |
| das Marketing | Die Marketingabteilung hat eine neue Kampagne gestartet. | The marketing department launched a new campaign. |
| die Präsentation | Er bereitet eine Präsentation für die Konferenz vor. | He is preparing a presentation for the conference. |
| das Projekt | Das Projekt wird nächsten Monat abgeschlossen. | The project will be completed next month. |
| die Rechnung | Bitte senden Sie die Rechnung an unsere Buchhaltung. | Please send the invoice to our accounting department. |
| die Schulung | Die neue Software erfordert eine Schulung. | The new software requires training. |
| das Team | Das Team arbeitet eng zusammen, um das Projekt abzuschließen. | The team works closely to complete the project. |
| der Umsatz | Der Umsatz ist im letzten Jahr um 15% gestiegen. | The revenue increased by 15% last year. |
| das Unternehmen | Das Unternehmen expandiert international. | The company is expanding internationally. |
| die Vereinbarung | Wir haben eine Vereinbarung mit dem Partnerunternehmen getroffen. | We have made an agreement with the partner company. |
| der Verlust | Das Projekt führte zu einem finanziellen Verlust. | The project resulted in a financial loss. |
| die Verhandlung | Die Verhandlungen mit dem neuen Kunden waren erfolgreich. | The negotiations with the new client were successful. |
| der Verkauf | Der Verkauf unserer Produkte läuft gut. | The sale of our products is going well. |
| der Vertrag | Der Vertrag wurde gestern unterzeichnet. | The contract was signed yesterday. |
| das Ziel | Unser Ziel ist es, den Marktanteil zu erhöhen. | Our goal is to increase market share. |
Free German Business Vocabulary Quiz
Ready to assess your understanding of business German vocabulary? Take our business German vocabulary quiz to see how much you’ve learned and identify areas for improvement.
Conclusion
Building a strong business vocabulary in German is a valuable step towards achieving fluency in professional settings.
Keep revisiting this guide and continue to expand your vocabulary. Viel Erfolg auf Ihrem Weg! (Wishing you much success on your journey!)
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Why is learning business German vocabulary important?
Understanding business German vocabulary helps you communicate clearly in professional environments. You can write better emails, join meetings, and understand contracts and reports. These words are essential if you want to do business in Germany, Austria, or Switzerland.
What level is this vocabulary suitable for?
This list is ideal for B1 to B2 learners. It includes useful nouns and verbs that are common in the workplace and will help you understand written and spoken communication at the office.
Are these words used in real-life business situations?
Yes. The vocabulary covers typical situations like writing applications, working on projects, attending meetings, and discussing sales, profits, and contracts. These words are used daily in companies of all sizes.
Can this vocabulary help me apply for jobs in German?
Absolutely. Some of the words in this list — like die Bewerbung (the application), das Vorstellungsgespräch (the interview), and der Arbeitsvertrag (the employment contract) are directly related to job applications and employment.
Is this vocabulary useful for professional German exams?
Yes. The exam Telc for Business B2 includes business-related topics. Knowing these words gives you an advantage in both the reading and speaking sections.
Do you offer an overview of all vocabulary articles?
Certainly! You can explore it right: German vocabulary overview.
Where can I find more German learning resources?
Visit our website for additional vocabulary articles, vocabulary quizzes, and short stories. We also offer grammar articles and grammar quizzes.
