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
Checking...
Loading your saved state.
Meanings
die Arbeit
work / task
A specific task, piece of work, or project that needs to be completed.
EXAMPLE
Diese Arbeit muss bis Freitag fertig sein.
This work has to be finished by Friday.
die Arbeit
work / effort
The effort, exertion, or labor required for an activity.
EXAMPLE
Es hat viel Arbeit gekostet, den Garten so schön zu machen.
It took a lot of work to make the garden so beautiful.
die Arbeit
paper / thesis
An academic text written as part of university or school studies, such as a term paper or thesis.
EXAMPLE
Sie schreibt gerade an ihrer Bachelor-Arbeit.
She is currently writing her bachelor's thesis.
die Arbeit
work
A physics term that describes the energy transferred to a body by a force along a path.
EXAMPLE
Die physikalische Einheit für Arbeit ist Joule.
The physical unit for work is the joule.
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
StelleJobAufgabeWerkLeistungDienstBerufTätigkeitMüheAufwandBeschäftigungWorkAufsatzAnstellungErwerbstätigkeit
Arbeit vs Stelle
place / position
Arbeit and Stelle can both refer to paid employment. Arbeit refers to employment in general, while a Stelle means a specific workplace or position. If you are simply looking for employment, Arbeit is appropriate; if you are referring to a specific position, use Stelle.
Arbeit
Nach dem Umzug sucht sie schnell Arbeit in der neuen Stadt.
After moving, she quickly looked for work in the new city.
Stelle
Nach dem Umzug bewirbt sie sich auf eine bestimmte Stelle in der neuen Stadt.
After moving, she applied for a specific position in the new city.
In real life
Loading video examples...