Speaking about German Professions (Berufe)

In everyday life we often talk about our jobs or ask others: "What do you do for a living?" or "Where do you work?" That’s why it’s important to know the German words for professions and how to ask and answer questions about jobs correctly.

In this article, you will learn:

• How to ask about professions in German (formally and informally)

• How to talk about your own job

• A list of many common professions – with both masculine and feminine forms

• Special grammar rules, like umlaut changes in some words

With this knowledge you’ll be able to hold simple conversations, meet new people, and express yourself better in everyday and work-related situations.

💬 Common Questions About Professions

There are several standard ways to ask about someone's job in German. The formality of the question depends on who you're speaking to.

✅ Informal (Du-form)

• Was bist du von Beruf (What is your profession?)

• Was machst du beruflich? (What do you do professionally?)

• Wo arbeitest du? (Where do you work?)

✅ Formal (Sie-form)

• Was sind Sie von Beruf? (What is your profession?)

• Was machen Sie beruflich? (What do you do professionally?)

• Wo arbeiten Sie? (Where do you work?)

How to Answer Profession Questions

Basic Structure

You usually answer using "Ich bin + [profession]" without an article:
✅ Ich bin Lehrer. I am a teacher.

❌ Ich bin ein Lehrer. <-- Usage of article "ein" in this case is incorrect!

However, if you add adjectives or extra information, you do use the article:

• Ich bin ein guter Lehrer. (I am a good teacher.)

With Company

Ich arbeite bei [Firma/Organisation]. I work at [company/organization].

• Ich arbeite bei Siemens. I work at Siemens.

• Ich arbeite bei der Polizei. I work at the police department.

With Position

Ich arbeite als [Beruf]. I work as a [profession].

• Ich arbeite als Ingenieur. I work as an engineer.

• Ich arbeite als Krankenschwester. I work as a nurse.

With Place of Work

Ich arbeite in [Ort/Einrichtung]. I work in [place/institution].

• Ich arbeite in einem Krankenhaus. I work in a hospital.

• Ich arbeite in einer Schule. I work in a school.

Describing What You Do

Ich unterrichte / helfe / programmiere. I teach / help / program.

• Ich unterrichte Deutsch. I teach German.

• Ich helfe Patienten. I help patients.

• Ich programmiere Webseiten. I program websites.

Describing How You Feel About Your Job

Ich finde meinen Beruf ... (I find my job ...)

• Ich finde meinen Beruf interessant. I find my job interesting.

• Ich finde meinen Beruf langweilig. I find my job boring.

• Ich finde meinen Beruf anstrengend. I find my job exhausting.

Mein Beruf ist ...(My job is ...)

• Mein Beruf ist spannend. My job is exciting.

• Mein Beruf ist manchmal stressig. My job is sometimes stressful.

• Mein Beruf ist sehr kreativ. My job is very creative.

Ich mag meinen Beruf, weil ...(I like my job because ...)

• Ich mag meinen Beruf, weil ich mit Menschen arbeite. I like my job because I work with people.

• Ich mag meinen Beruf, weil er flexibel ist. I like my job because it is flexible.

• Ich mag meinen Beruf, weil ich helfen kann. I like my job because I can help others.

List of Common Professions in German

👉 Most professions form the feminine by adding -in to the masculine form.

Note on Umlauts: Some masculine professions with a, o, or u in the root word add an umlaut when forming the feminine:

• Arzt → Ärztin

• Anwalt → Anwältin

• Tierarzt → Tierärztin

👉 For professions like Angestellte, which already end in "-e", we form the feminine just by changing the article from der to die.

• der Angestellte → die Angestellte (male employee → female employee)

👉 Note on "-mann" professions:
If a profession contains "-mann", the feminine form usually replaces it with "-frau", for example:

• der Kaufmann → die Kauffrau (male entrepreneur → female entrepreneur)

👉 "die Krankenschwester" is the traditional term for female nurse, but "die Pflegefachfrau" (nursing specialist) is becoming more common.

List of Workplace Words 

Extra Vocabulary List: Beruf (profession) and Bereich (field/area)

💡 Useful Tips for Learners

• Pay attention to gendered nouns: Many professions still distinguish between male and female forms.

• Practice both formal and informal questions and answers.

• Don’t be afraid to ask: Was ist dein Beruf? – It’s a great icebreaker!

Example Dialog in German about Professions

Also learn what questions to use when a person is getting to know another person, such as questions related to name, age, etc.