voluntary
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voluntary / unpaid
An activity that one does voluntarily and without pay, often for a social, charitable, or church-related purpose.
Viele Menschen engagieren sich ehrenamtlich bei der Freiwilligen Feuerwehr.
Many people volunteer with the volunteer fire department.
The word is composed of 'Ehre' (honor) and 'Amt' (office/position). So it describes an activity that one does not do for money, but 'der Ehre halber' (for the sake of honor).
Sein ehrenamtliches Engagement im Sportverein ist bewundernswert.
His volunteer work at the sports club is admirable.
'Ehrenamtlich' (voluntary/unpaid) can be used as an adjective before a noun or as an adverb to describe a verb. The form does not change in the process.
Sie leistet ehrenamtliche Arbeit im Altersheim.
She does volunteer work in a retirement home.
Common verbs used with 'ehrenamtlich' (voluntarily/as a volunteer) are 'sich engagieren' (to get involved/volunteer), 'arbeiten' (to work), or 'tätig sein' (to be active/work). It often describes a 'Tätigkeit' (activity) or an 'Engagement' (commitment/involvement).
Viele Studierende engagieren sich ehrenamtlich.
Many students volunteer.
voluntary
'freiwillig' and 'ehrenamtlich' both have to do with doing something without coercion and without pay. 'freiwillig' is more general: it only says that someone does something of their own free will. 'ehrenamtlich' is used for a fixed or regular activity, often in an association, a social institution, or for a charitable purpose. So you can help voluntarily without necessarily doing formal volunteer work. 'ehrenamtlich' sounds more precise when it is about an unpaid task for others or for an organization.
Mehmet arbeitet am Wochenende ehrenamtlich bei der Tafel.
Mehmet volunteers at the food bank on weekends.
Nach dem Unterricht bleibt Lisa freiwillig da, um beim Aufräumen zu helfen.
After class, Lisa stays voluntarily to help tidy up.