German word

Dienst

Pronunciation

IPA/diːnst/

Meaning

  • masculine nounduty

Example

Ich bin heute im Dienst.

I'm on duty today.

Illustration for Dienst (duty)

More examples

Heute Abend habe ich Dienst.

I am on duty this evening.

Core concept

A role in which someone is available to provide help or carry out an assigned responsibility.

Common phrases

  • im Dienst sein

    be on duty

  • Dienst haben

    be on duty

Similar words

Arbeit: Work in general, especially the activity of working itself.
Dienstleistung: A useful service or business provided for customers or others.
Schicht: A scheduled period of work in a rotating system.
Aufgabe: An assigned task or responsibility that needs completion.

Definition in German

Dienst bezeichnet die Tätigkeit, anderen eine Leistung oder Unterstützung zu erbringen; dabei kann es sich um berufliche oder freiwillige Hilfe handeln.

Word origin

The noun Dienst is formed from the Germanic verb dienen, "to serve," and retains the older idea of serving someone while also naming service or duty.

Usage tips

  • In jemandem einen Dienst tun or jemandem einen Dienst erweisen, the person helped is marked by the dative, as in jemandem.

Other meanings

  • servicenoun
  • watchnoun

Opposites

Related words

Word lists with this word