German word

arbeitslos

Pronunciation

IPA/ˈaʁbaɪ̯tsˌloːs/

Meaning

  • adjectiveunemployed

Example

Er ist seit drei Monaten arbeitslos.

He has been unemployed for three months.

Illustration for arbeitslos (unemployed)

More examples

Sie ist arbeitslos und schreibt Bewerbungen.

She is unemployed and is writing applications.

Core concept

An unused employee badge beside an empty work calendar suggests someone currently outside paid employment.

Common phrases

  • arbeitslos sein

    be unemployed

  • arbeitslos werden

    become unemployed

  • als arbeitslos gemeldet sein

    be registered as unemployed

Similar words

arbeitssuchend: Actively looking for work and hoping to find a job.
joblos: Without a job, in a casual everyday expression.
erwerbslos: Without paid employment, especially in official or statistical contexts.

Definition in German

Keine bezahlte Arbeit habend; nicht berufstätig.

Word origin

The adjective combines German Arbeit, meaning work, with the suffix -los, meaning without; Arbeit goes back to Middle High German arbeit, whose earlier origin is uncertain.

Usage tips

  • German uses arbeitslos sein, not arbeitslos haben, so the usual form is "Er ist arbeitslos."

Other meanings

  • joblessadjective

Opposites

Related words

Word lists with this word