Want to kickstart learning German for business? Give the article a thorough read to get hold of essential German phrases used in business setup.
Do you want to be a Muttersprachler in German? Maybe you have just stepped into corporate and want to communicate effectively in business German. When you have a complete German business setup, learning conversational German is not enough for you.
Basic German can help you understand only a little bit of the language, but to participate and cooperate well in the German business culture, you must be an expert in the corporate jargon.
In the article here, we will explain the reasons and benefits of learning business German. We will also take a look at how the Jolii AI language learning app can help you practice and conduct a formal business conversation in German.
Why Learn German for Business?
Germany is one of the most influential business markets in Europe and has a stronghold worldwide. The German market has full-on opportunities to grow and progress in your career. Although many Germans can speak English fluently, they really appreciate doing business in their own language.
Before you learn the more complex business German, we will ask you to check out this article that will help you learn conversational German by using the Netflix language learning approach. Once you are good to go for conversational German, it will boost your morale to learn effective business German.
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7 Days FREE TrialYou cannot find Germans wasting time gossiping around; they are particular in their business and value their and other people’s time, too. It makes other people feel intimidated to work with Germans at first. Since it is a cultural thing, once you get used to learning their process, you won’t feel the same.
As part of the cultural setup, Germans are inclined to work with people who can speak German. It is not because of language bias, but it is easier to move on strategically with the business needs.
Business German is essential to do business; it plays a critical role in understanding the German bureaucratic process. Even natives can’t understand the complex business world without business German.
It can also help to develop a strong relationship with clients who are German nationals, language connects people from different parts of the world to connect and do business.
Vocabulary and Phrases for Business German
Are you considering moving to Germany for work? Or is your company doing business with Germany? German might be difficult, but it is undoubtedly an important language for professional settings. In this guide, we will introduce you to how to speak and write effectively in a business environment.
Conducting Formal Conversation In German: German Business Greetings
A fundamental prerequisite for learning Business German (in German: Wirtschaftsdeutsch) is knowing how to address people formally. The German language places a great emphasis on formality, and when it comes to professional settings, formal address is essential. Instead of the informal ‘du’ (you), you should get used to using the formal ‘Sie’ (they).
Here are some common greetings you can use:
Guten Morgen, Herr Müller. (Good morning, Mr. Müller.)
Guten Tag, Frau Schmidt. (Good day, Ms. Schmidt.)
Wie geht es Ihnen? (How are you?)
Es freut mich, Sie kennenzulernen. (It’s a pleasure to meet you.)
Vielen Dank für Ihre Zeit. (Thank you very much for your time.)
Ich hoffe, Sie hatten eine angenehme Anreise. (I hope you had a pleasant journey.)
Auf Wiedersehen, Herr Meier. (Goodbye, Mr. Meier.)
Transition To Informal Address In German
After the formal greetings, it may happen that the other person suggests switching to the more casual ‘du’. They might say:
Dürfen wir uns duzen? (May we use the informal ‘du’?)
or
Lass uns doch du sagen! (Let’s say ‘du’!)
From that moment on, you can use ‘du’, and the tone of the conversation will become more informal.
Common German Business Vocabulary: 25 Words and 10 Verbs You Definitely Need
No matter your industry, there are some words and verbs you surely will need to handle work and business in German.
To start speaking about business in German, you definitely need these essential 25 words commonly heard in any business setting.
| German Word (Translation) | Examples in Context |
| 1. die Abteilung (department) | Ich arbeite in der Marketingabteilung. (I work in the marketing department.) Die Abteilung für Finanzen ist sehr beschäftigt. (The finance department is very busy.) |
| 2. Der Arbeitgeber (employer) | Der Arbeitgeber bietet gute Arbeitsbedingungen an. (The employer offers good working conditions.) Viele Mitarbeiter schätzen ihren Arbeitgeber sehr. (Many employees greatly appreciate their employer.) |
| 3. die Bewerbung (application) | Ich habe meine Bewerbung gestern abgeschickt. (I sent my application yesterday.) Wir haben viele Bewerbungen für die Stelle erhalten. (We received many applications for the position.) |
| 4. die Besprechung (meeting) | Die Besprechung findet um 10 Uhr statt. (The meeting takes place at 10 AM.) Wir müssen die Besprechung verschieben. (We need to reschedule the meeting.) |
| 5. die Branche (industry) | Die Branche wächst schnell. (The industry is growing quickly.) In dieser Branche gibt es viele Wettbewerber. (There are many competitors in this industry.) |
| 6. das Büro (office) | Mein Büro ist im dritten Stock. (My office is on the third floor.) Das neue Büro hat eine moderne Ausstattung. (The new office has modern equipment.) |
| 7. der Chef (boss) | Mein Chef ist sehr unterstützend. (My boss is very supportive.) Der Chef hat eine klare Vision für das Unternehmen. (The boss has a clear vision for the company.) |
| 8. das Einkommen (income) | Das Einkommen der Mitarbeiter ist gestiegen. (The income of the employees has increased.) Wir müssen unser Einkommen diversifizieren. (We need to diversify our income.) |
| 9. die Firma (company) | Ich arbeite für eine große Firma. (I work for a large company.) Die Firma hat viele internationale Kunden. (The company has many international clients.) |
| 10. das Gehalt (salary) | Mein Gehalt wird nächsten Monat erhöht. (My salary will be increased next month.) Er ist mit seinem Gehalt zufrieden. (He is satisfied with his salary.) |
| 11. der Geschäftsführer (CEO) | Der Geschäftsführer hält eine Rede. (The CEO is giving a speech.) Sie wurde zur neuen Geschäftsführerin ernannt. (She was appointed as the new CEO.) |
| 12. die Geschäftsreise (business trip) | Die Geschäftsreise nach Frankfurt war erfolgreich. (The business trip to Frankfurt was successful.) Er plant eine Geschäftsreise nach London. (He is planning a business trip to London.) |
| 13. der Gewinn (profit) | Der Gewinn übertraf unsere Erwartungen. (The profit exceeded our expectations.) Wir streben einen höheren Gewinn an. (We are aiming for a higher profit.) |
| 14. der Kunde (customer) | Der Kunde hat eine Beschwerde eingereicht. (The customer filed a complaint.) Wir müssen unsere Kunden besser betreuen. (We need to better serve our customers.) |
| 15. der Konkurs (bankruptcy) | Die Firma ging in Konkurs. (The company went bankrupt.) Viele Angestellte verloren ihren Job nach dem Konkurs. (Many employees lost their jobs after the bankruptcy.) |
| 16. die Kündigung (resignation/termination) | Er hat seine Kündigung eingereicht. (He submitted his resignation.) Die Kündigung war für alle überraschend. (The termination was surprising for everyone.) |
| 17. der Lebenslauf (CV) | Ich habe meinen Lebenslauf aktualisiert. (I updated my CV.) Der Lebenslauf sollte klar und präzise sein. (The CV should be clear and concise.) |
| 18. die Mensa (cafeteria) | Die Mensa bietet gesunde Mahlzeiten an. (The cafeteria offers healthy meals.) Wir treffen uns in der Mensa zum Mittagessen. (We will meet in the cafeteria for lunch.) |
| 19. der Mitarbeiter (employee) | Der neue Mitarbeiter ist sehr motiviert. (The new employee is very motivated.) Unsere Mitarbeiter sind unser wichtigstes Kapital. (Our employees are our most important asset.) |
| 20. das Praktikum (internship) | Ich mache ein Praktikum bei einer großen Firma. (I am doing an internship at a large company.) Das Praktikum bietet wertvolle Erfahrungen. (The internship provides valuable experience.) |
| 21. das Stellenangebot (job offer) | Das Stellenangebot beschreibt die Anforderungen und Aufgaben der Position. (The job offer describes the requirements and tasks of the position.) Ich habe ein interessantes Stellenangebot gefunden und möchte mich bewerben. (I found an interesting job offer and would like to apply.) |
| 22. der Termin (appointment) | Ich habe einen wichtigen Termin um 14 Uhr. (I have an important appointment at 2 PM.) Können wir einen Termin für nächste Woche vereinbaren? (Can we schedule an appointment for next week?) |
| 23. die Überstunden (overtime) | Ich mache oft Überstunden. (I often work overtime.) Überstunden werden extra vergütet. (Overtime is compensated extra.) |
| 24. der Vertrag (contract) | Der Vertrag muss noch unterschrieben werden. (The contract still needs to be signed.) Wir müssen die Vertragsbedingungen überprüfen. (We need to review the contract terms.) |
| 25. das Vorstellungsgespräch (job interview) | Das Vorstellungsgespräch lief sehr gut. (The job interview went very well.) Bereiten Sie sich gut auf das Vorstellungsgespräch vor. (Prepare well for the job interview.) |
In addition, here are 10 useful verbs to enhance your business communication.
| German Verb (Translation) | Examples in Context |
| anstellen (to hire) | Die Firma wird nächste Woche neue Mitarbeiter anstellen. (The company will hire new employees next week.) Wir haben beschlossen, einen neuen Manager anzustellen. (We decided to hire a new manager.) |
| besprechen (to discuss) | Wir besprechen die Strategie. (We are discussing the strategy.)Können wir das in der Besprechung besprechen? (Can we discuss this in the meeting?) |
| sich Bewerben (to apply) | Ich möchte mich um die Stelle bewerben. (I would like to apply for the position.) Er hat sich bei mehreren Firmen beworben. (He applied to several companies.) |
| einstellen (to employ) | Wir stellen qualifizierte Fachkräfte ein. (We employ qualified professionals.) Das Unternehmen stellt neue Praktikanten ein. (The company hires new interns.) |
| entlassen (to dismiss) | Das Unternehmen musste einige Mitarbeiter entlassen. (The company had to dismiss some employees.) Sie wurde aus wirtschaftlichen Gründen entlassen. (She was dismissed for economic reasons.) |
| Geschäfte machen (to do business) | Wir machen gute Geschäfte mit internationalen Partnern. (We do good business with international partners.) Er macht Geschäfte in Osteuropa. (He does business in Eastern Europe.) |
| gründen (to found) | Er gründet ein neues Startup. (He is founding a new startup.)Das Unternehmen wurde vor 20 Jahren gegründet. (The company was founded 20 years ago.) |
| kündigen (to resign/terminate) | Ich habe beschlossen, meinen Job zu kündigen. (I have decided to resign from my job.) Er kündigte seinen Vertrag fristgerecht. (He terminated his contract in due time.) |
| produzieren (to produce) | Die Fabrik produziert 1000 Einheiten pro Tag. (The factory produces 1000 units per day.)Wir produzieren hochwertige Produkte. (We produce high-quality products.) |
| verhandeln (to negotiate) | Wir müssen über die Vertragsbedingungen verhandeln. (We need to negotiate the contract terms.) Er verhandelt einen besseren Preis mit dem Lieferanten. (He is negotiating a better price with the supplier.) |
Writing A Business Email In the German Language
Maybe your spoken interactions are strong, but you struggle with writing. Whether you need to write an email from scratch or answer an email you received, the following table can help you write the perfect email in business German.
Here is an example business email in German with English Translation
| Betreff: Anfrage bezüglich des Projekts | Subject: Inquiry regarding the project |
| Sehr geehrter Herr Müller, Vielen Dank für Ihre E-Mail. Ich schreibe Ihnen bezüglich des Projekts, das wir in der letzten Woche besprochen haben. Es wäre nett, wenn Sie mir die fehlenden Unterlagen bis Ende der Woche zusenden könnten. Könnten Sie mir bitte auch Ihre Meinung zu den vorgeschlagenen Änderungen mitteilen? Ich freue mich auf Ihre Antwort. Mit freundlichen Grüßen, Max Mustermann | Dear Mr. Müller, Thank you for your email. I am writing to you regarding the project we discussed last week. It would be nice if you could send me the missing documents by the end of the week. Could you please also let me know your opinion on the proposed changes? I look forward to your reply. Yours sincerely,Max Mustermann |
Did you know? With Jolii, you can learn German for Business! In our collection of videos especially designed to teach you Wirtschaftsdeutsch, you will find content that helps you practice your business German in context. This way, you will be ready for your next job interview or your next work experience in a German-speaking setting. Go check out Jolii today!
German Business Abbreviations
In the German language, words can sometimes become very long, especially with compound words. Therefore, in written language, many abbreviations are used. Here are the most important ones that you need to know if you want to learn German, especially for business.
| German Abbreviation | Full Meaning | English Translation |
| AG | Aktiengesellschaft | Joint-stock company |
| ca. | circa | approximately |
| d.h. | das heißt | that is |
| EDV | Elektronische Datenverarbeitung | Electronic Data Processing |
| evtl. | eventuell | possibly |
| exkl. | exklusive | exclusive of |
| ggf. | gegebenenfalls | if applicable |
| GmbH | Gesellschaft mit beschränkter Haftung | Limited liability company |
| HGB | Handelsgesetzbuch | Commercial Code |
| i.A. | im Auftrag | on behalf of |
| i.V.m. | in Verbindung mit | in connection with |
| inkl. | inklusive | including |
| Kfz | Kraftfahrzeug | motor vehicle |
| Lkw | Lastkraftwagen | truck |
| MwSt. | Mehrwertsteuer | Value-added tax (VAT) |
| u.a. | unter anderem | among other things |
| UG | Unternehmergesellschaft | Entrepreneurial company (mini-GmbH) |
| usw. | und so weiter | etc. |
| z.B. | zum Beispiel | for example |
Etiquette in German Business Culture
Not only is the language formal, but the behavior in a German business setting is also very important. So, make sure to pay attention to the following points when doing business in Germany.
Punctuality: Germans are well known for their punctuality, and this is not just a stereotype; it applies even in informal settings. Even a few minutes’ delay can negatively influence the atmosphere, harm your reputation, and turn a potential success into an assured failure. So, make sure to arrive a few minutes earlier for a meeting to start off on the right foot!
Professional Communication: Do not address people with ‘du’ unless you are invited to do so. Formality in language is very important, so always keep your language formal with ‘Sie’ and switch only if invited. When addressing someone, always use their last name with Herr or Frau.
Hierarchy and Respect: In Germany, hierarchy is very important, and Germans are very direct and straightforward. Employees are expected to address their bosses directly while maintaining respectful interactions.
Gift-Giving and Gestures: Germans are not known for being very contact-friendly and generally avoid hugs and kisses, even with their closest friends. Nevertheless, when introducing yourself to someone, it is recommended to offer him or her a firm handshake and make eye contact. If you want to give a gift for an occasion such as Christmas or a birthday, avoid doing it too early in the working relationship and opt for a practical, modest gift. Avoid buying an expensive gift, as the other person might feel uncomfortable.
Steps to Master Business German
Follow these simple steps to master learning the German corporate language.
- Set clear goals for learning.
- Build a strong grammar foundation.
- Focus on business-specific vocabulary.
- Practice real-life scenarios such as meetings and emails.
- Engage with native speakers.
- Use media in German like business news and podcasts.
- Immerse yourself daily in the language.
Use the Jolii app with tailored exercises and real-world scenarios to practice business German. Download Now.
Conclusion
You are all set now that you have learned the necessary phrases to improve your German for business. You can confidently step into German business backed by your strong communication power to establish a connection with business people in Germany.
It is now high time we practice the language, and here we have the Jolii app to reinforce and practice our learning. Jolii can integrate with other resources like German videos so you can communicate effectively with your German partners.
