German word

arbeiten

Pronunciation

IPA/ˈaʁbaɪ̯tən/

Meaning

  • verbwork

Example

Ich arbeite seit drei Jahren.

I've been working for three years.

Illustration for arbeiten (work)

More examples

Heute arbeite ich von zu Hause.

Today I work from home.

Core concept

Hands and mind steadily shape something useful, whether the result is a product, an improvement, or completed professional work.

Common phrases

  • Teilzeit arbeiten

    work part-time

  • zu Hause arbeiten

    work from home

  • im Team arbeiten

    work in a team

Similar words

arbeiten als: Work in the role of a stated profession or job.
arbeiten bei: Work for a named company or organization.
arbeiten an: Focus effort on a specific task or project.
jobben: Do temporary or casual work, often as a short-term job.

Definition in German

etwas durch Einsatz von Zeit und Kraft herstellen oder verbessern; an einer Aufgabe arbeiten oder beruflich tätig sein.

Word origin

The German verb arbeiten derives from the noun Arbeit, from Old High German arbeit meaning hardship or trouble, and later developed the sense of labor.

Usage tips

  • The employer is expressed with bei plus the dative, while als plus a job title describes the worker's role.

Other meanings

  • work onverb
  • laborverb
  • functionverb

Opposites

Related words

Word lists with this word