01
die Besoldung
salary
The legally regulated salary for civil servants, judges, and soldiers.
example
Die Besoldung der Bundesbeamten wird regelmäßig angepasst.
The salary of federal civil servants is adjusted regularly.
die Besoldung
salary
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Meanings
Usage tips
Word structure
The word contains the old term 'der Sold' (soldier's pay), which referred to payment for soldiers. 'Besoldung' (salary) today is the official, legally regulated pay for people in state service.
EXAMPLE
Historisch gesehen war der Sold eines einfachen Soldaten oft sehr niedrig.
Historically, the pay of an ordinary soldier was often very low.
Specific use
This word is used exclusively for the income of people in the public sector, especially civil servants, judges, and soldiers. It is not used for employees in the private sector.
EXAMPLE
Als verbeamteter Lehrer erhält man eine Besoldung nach einer festen Tabelle.
As a tenured teacher with civil servant status, you receive a salary according to a fixed scale.
Typical collocations
Common verbs used with 'Besoldung' (salary) are 'erhalten' (to receive), 'beziehen' (to draw/receive), 'anpassen' (to adjust), and 'erhöhen' (to increase). The genitive is often used to specify whose salary is meant.
EXAMPLE
Die Gewerkschaft fordert eine Erhöhung der Besoldung der Polizisten.
The union is demanding an increase in police officers' salaries.
Compare with
Besoldung vs Gehalt
salary / content
'das Gehalt' and 'die Besoldung' both refer to money that you receive regularly for work. 'das Gehalt' is the normal word for employees in companies, schools, or other organizations. 'die Besoldung' is used specifically for civil servants, judges, and soldiers because their pay is regulated by law. The words can be confused because in both cases it is about monthly income. As a practical rule: for most jobs, you say 'Gehalt'; in the public sector, for civil servants, 'Besoldung' is more likely.
Besoldung
Bei Beamten richtet sich die Besoldung nach festen Regeln.
For civil servants, salary is based on fixed rules.
Gehalt
Die Chefin spricht in der E-Mail über das neue Gehalt.
The boss talks about the new salary in the email.
In real life
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