verdienen
to earn
To receive money as payment for work performed.
EXAMPLE
Als Softwareentwickler verdient man heutzutage ziemlich gut.
As a software developer, you earn pretty well these days.
verdienen
to earn / deserve
Checking...
Loading your saved state.
Meanings
verdienen
to deserve
To have a right to something because one has earned it through one's behavior or performance; to be worthy of something.
EXAMPLE
Nach dieser anstrengenden Woche hast du dir wirklich ein ruhiges Wochenende verdient.
After this exhausting week, you really deserve a quiet weekend.
Usage tips
Word structure
The word consists of the inseparable prefix 'ver-' and the verb 'dienen' (to serve). The basic idea is that you receive something through 'dienen' (serving), that is, through work or performance.
EXAMPLE
Er dient dem Unternehmen seit 20 Jahren und hat sich seine Position verdient.
He has served the company for 20 years and has earned his position.
Context clue
You can recognize the meaning of 'verdienen' (to earn/deserve) from the object. If it is about money, salary, or livelihood, it means 'to get money for work'. If it is about abstract things like a break, respect, or a punishment, it means 'to be worthy of something'.
EXAMPLE
Wie viel verdienst du in deinem neuen Job?
How much do you earn in your new job?
Reflexive use
In the meaning 'würdig sein' (to be worthy), the verb is often used reflexively with a dative pronoun: 'sich (dative) etwas (accusative) verdienen' (to earn/deserve something for oneself). This emphasizes that the person themself is the recipient of what is deserved.
EXAMPLE
Nach der harten Gartenarbeit habe ich mir ein kühles Getränk verdient.
After the hard gardening work, I deserve a cold drink.
Typical collocations
When it is about payment, 'verdienen' (to earn) is often combined with the nouns 'Geld' (money), 'Gehalt' (salary), or 'Lebensunterhalt' (livelihood). Adverbs like 'gut' (well), 'schlecht' (poorly), or 'genug' (enough) are also typical.
EXAMPLE
Mit diesem Job kann man seinen Lebensunterhalt gut verdienen.
With this job, you can earn your living well.
Compare with
verdienen vs bekommen
to get / receive
Both words can be used for money earned through work, but they emphasize different things. „Verdienen“ refers to the amount earned through work, while „bekommen“ emphasizes actually receiving the money. Use „verdienen“ when talking about how much you earn for your work and „bekommen“ when talking about when you get paid.
verdienen
Mit dieser Arbeit verdiene ich jeden Monat 2.000 Euro.
I earn 2,000 euros a month with this job.
bekommen
Am Freitag bekomme ich mein Gehalt auf mein Konto.
I get my salary deposited into my account on Friday.
In real life
Loading video examples...