civil servant
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civil servant
A person who has a public-law employment and loyalty relationship with the state or another public-law body and performs sovereign public duties.
Als Beamter im Finanzamt prüft er die Steuererklärungen.
As a civil servant at the tax office, he checks tax returns.
The word 'Beamter' is closely related to 'das Amt' (office / public office). An 'Amt' is an official position or an authority in the public service. So a 'Beamter' is literally a person who holds such an office.
Er hat ein hohes Amt im Außenministerium.
He holds a high office in the Foreign Ministry.
'Der Beamte' is a noun, but it is declined like an adjective. After the definite article, it always ends in '-en' in the genitive, dative, and accusative. This declension type is often a challenge for learners.
Das ist das Büro des Beamten.
That is the civil servant's office.
In Germany, the status of 'Beamter' has a special legal and social significance. It is often connected with a secure job for life ('Verbeamtung auf Lebenszeit', appointment as a civil servant for life) and a special duty of loyalty toward the state.
Viele Lehrer in Deutschland sind verbeamtet.
Many teachers in Germany are civil servants.
employee
'der Beamte' and 'der Arbeitnehmer' can both refer to people who work professionally and are paid for it. The important difference lies in the legal relationship. A 'Beamter' has a special service relationship with the state or a public authority. An 'Arbeitnehmer' works for an employer in a normal employment relationship, for example in a company or also in a government office. Learners may confuse the words because civil servants also work and receive a salary. More precisely, however: not every 'Arbeitnehmer' is a 'Beamter', and not every person employed in the public service is automatically a 'Beamter'.
Der Beamte prüft im Rathaus meinen Antrag.
The civil servant checks my application at city hall.
Als Arbeitnehmer hat Mehmet Anspruch auf bezahlten Urlaub.
As an employee, Mehmet is entitled to paid vacation.