wage / reward
Loading your saved state.
wage
Regular pay for work performed, especially for physical or manual work, often calculated by the hour or by the number of pieces produced.
Die Arbeiter forderten einen höheren Lohn für ihre schwere Arbeit auf der Baustelle.
The workers demanded a higher wage for their hard work on the construction site.
reward
A reward, recognition, or even a negative consequence that is seen as the result of a particular action or behavior.
Die gute Note war der verdiente Lohn für wochenlanges Lernen.
The good grade was the deserved reward for weeks of studying.
The noun 'der Lohn' (wage / reward) is closely related to the verb 'belohnen' (to reward) and the noun 'die Belohnung' (reward). All these words have the basic idea of recognition or compensation for an achievement.
Für seine Mühe erhielt er eine kleine Belohnung.
He received a small reward for his effort.
'Der Lohn' means pay for work. It is a false friend of the English word 'loan', which means a loan or credit, that is, borrowed money.
Die Mitarbeiter sind mit ihrem Lohn unzufrieden.
The employees are dissatisfied with their wages.
'Lohn' (wage) is often used for payments calculated by the hour or by pieces produced ('Stundenlohn' = hourly wage, 'Stücklohn' = piece-rate wage). It is typical in the context of manual, physical, or manufacturing work.
Der Mindestlohn in Deutschland wird regelmäßig angepasst.
The minimum wage in Germany is adjusted regularly.
In the figurative meaning, 'Lohn' (reward) is often used in fixed expressions. Typical ones are 'der Lohn der Mühe' (the reward for the effort), 'der gerechte Lohn' (the just reward), or 'der verdiente Lohn' (the deserved reward).
Die Anerkennung seiner Kollegen war der schönste Lohn für seine Arbeit.
The recognition from his colleagues was the greatest reward for his work.
salary / content
Gehalt typically refers to a fixed monthly amount for employees. Lohn is used especially for physical or manual work and is often calculated by the hour or by the number of pieces produced. The main distinction is therefore whether the payment is fixed or depends on the work performed.
Der Arbeiter erhält einen Lohn nach seinen geleisteten Stunden.
The worker receives wages based on the hours he has worked.
Die Angestellte erhält jeden Monat ein festes Gehalt.
The employee receives a fixed salary every month.
