German word

Amt

Pronunciation

IPA/amt/

Meaning

  • neuter noungovernment office

Example

Ich gehe zum Amt, um meinen Pass zu beantragen.

I'm going to the government office to apply for my passport.

Illustration for Amt (government office)

More examples

Ich rufe beim Amt an, um die Öffnungszeiten zu erfragen.

I am calling the government office to ask about its opening hours.

Core concept

A public desk and the authority behind it, where official duties such as issuing documents are handled.

Common phrases

  • beim Amt anrufen

    call the government office

  • ein Dokument beim Amt beantragen

    apply for a document at the government office

  • die Öffnungszeiten des Amts prüfen

    check the government office's opening hours

Similar words

Behörde: A public authority carrying out legal duties and administrative work.
Verwaltung: A public administration responsible for managing official operations.
Bürgeramt: A local office handling resident registration and issuing certificates.
Rathaus: A city hall building where municipal administration is based.

Definition in German

Eine vom Staat oder von einer Gemeinde getragene Stelle, die bestimmte Verwaltungsaufgaben für Bürger erledigt; außerdem die Institution selbst, die diese Aufgaben wahrnimmt.

Word origin

German Amt comes through Old High German ambaht from a Germanic form borrowed from Celtic ambactus, referring to a service or official position.

Usage tips

  • Amt is neuter, its plural is Ämter, and zum Amt uses the dative form after zu.

Other meanings

  • officenoun
  • authoritiesnoun

Opposites

  • Privatunternehmenprivate companynoun

Related words

  • amtlichofficialadjective
  • Amtsgebäudegovernment office buildingnoun

Word lists with this word