01
die Arbeit
job / work
The professional activity for which you are paid; employment or a job.
example
Nach dem Studium hat sie eine gute Arbeit gefunden.
After finishing her studies, she found a good job.
die Arbeit
work
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Meanings
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Usage tips
Important prepositions
To express location or direction in relation to the workplace, certain prepositions are used. You go 'zur Arbeit' (to work; direction), but you are 'bei der Arbeit' or 'auf der Arbeit' (at work; location).
EXAMPLE
Ich fahre jeden Morgen mit dem Fahrrad zur Arbeit.
I ride my bike to work every morning.
Part of many words
'Arbeit' (work) is a very productive base word in German. It forms many compound nouns that refer to the world of work.
EXAMPLE
Mein neuer Arbeitsplatz ist nur zehn Minuten von zu Hause entfernt.
My new workplace is only ten minutes from home.
Countable or uncountable
'Arbeit' (work) can be countable when it refers to a specific task or an academic text. When it refers to professional activity in general or to effort, the word is uncountable and has no plural.
EXAMPLE
Ich muss noch zwei Arbeiten für die Universität fertigstellen.
I still have to finish two papers for university.
Typical collocations (job)
In the context of employment, 'Arbeit' (job/work) is often combined with certain verbs. Typical phrases are 'eine Arbeit suchen' (to look for a job), 'eine Arbeit finden' (to find a job), or 'seine Arbeit verlieren' (to lose one's job).
EXAMPLE
Er sucht seit drei Monaten eine neue Arbeit.
He has been looking for a new job for three months.
Describing effort
When 'Arbeit' (work/effort) means effort or exertion, it is often used with verbs like 'machen' (to make/do) or 'kosten' (to cost/take). It is then usually accompanied by 'viel' (a lot of), 'wenig' (little), or 'keine' (no).
EXAMPLE
Das Renovieren des Hauses hat uns viel Arbeit gemacht.
Renovating the house was a lot of work for us.
Typical collocations (studies)
In an academic context, people talk about 'eine Arbeit schreiben' (to write a paper/thesis), 'abgeben' (to submit), or 'präsentieren' (to present). The type of paper is often named directly.
EXAMPLE
Sie muss ihre Hausarbeit bis nächste Woche abgeben.
She has to submit her term paper by next week.
Compare with
Arbeit vs Stelle
place / position
'die Arbeit' and 'die Stelle' can both have to do with working life. 'die Arbeit' often means professional activity in general: you go to work or have a lot of work. 'die Stelle' more specifically means a particular position with an employer, especially when you are looking for it, get it, or lose it. Learners may confuse the words because both can sometimes feel like 'Job'. In practice: for everyday life and the activity itself, you are more likely to say 'Arbeit'; for a specific open or new position, 'Stelle' is more likely.
Arbeit
Nach der Arbeit kauft Anna noch Brot für das Abendessen.
After work, Anna buys some bread for dinner.
Stelle
Mein Freund bewirbt sich am Montag auf eine Stelle in einer großen Firma.
My friend is applying on Monday for a position at a large company.
In real life
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