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For Tech Expats in Berlin

German workplace vocabulary that actually matters

Your team speaks English, but HR emails, standups, and lunch conversations are in German. Here is the vocabulary you need to stop nodding along and start contributing.

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Vocabulary by context

The words Berlin tech expats actually encounter — not generic textbook examples.

Meetings & Standups

die Besprechungmeeting, discussion
der Stand-upstand-up (daily sync)
der Tagesordnungspunktagenda item
der Aufgabenbereicharea of responsibility
der Meilensteinmilestone
der Blockerblocker, obstacle
der Status-Updatestatus update
der Abstimmungsbedarfneed for alignment

Emails & Documentation

die Mitteilungnotice, announcement
die Rückmeldungfeedback, response
die Genehmigungapproval
die Abkürzungabbreviation
der Anhangattachment
das Kennwortpassword
die Zugriffsrechteaccess rights
der Bearbeitungsstandprocessing status

Time Off & HR

die Krankmeldungsick note, calling in sick
der Urlaubsantragvacation request
die Elternzeitparental leave
die Befristungfixed-term contract
die Kündigungsfristnotice period
die Probezeitprobation period
das Homeofficeremote work / home office
die Gleitzeitflexible working hours

Colleagues & Culture

der Kollege / die Kollegincolleague
der Vorgesetztesupervisor, manager
die Teamleitungteam lead
der Dienstwegofficial channels / chain of command
die Dienstreisebusiness trip
die Teambuilding-Maßnahmeteam-building activity
die Mittagspauselunch break
die Kaffeemaschinecoffee machine (very important)

Why workplace German matters in Berlin tech

English is common in Berlin tech, but emails to HR and official notices are often in German.

Understanding standups in German shows you are integrated, not just present.

Job contracts, termination clauses, and probation rules are written in formal German — not the kind apps teach.

Lunch conversations build relationships. Knowing workplace slang makes you part of the team faster.

BerlinBrief teaches these terms through real news stories about Berlin tech, labor law, and startup culture.

How BerlinBrief teaches it

Every Brief includes vocabulary in real context — not flashcards.

From a real B1 Brief about Berlin startup layoffs:

“Das Startup hat 20 Prozent der Stellen gestrichen. Die betroffenen Mitarbeiter erhalten eine Abfindung und Outplacement-Unterstützung. Die Kündigungsfrist beträgt drei Monate.”

die Kündigungsfrist→ notice period (time between dismissal and leaving)
die Abfindung→ severance pay
das Outplacement→ support finding a new job after layoff

Ready for real German at work?

Start your 7-day free trial. Every morning, a real German news story at your level — with the workplace, Behörden, and daily-life vocabulary Berlin expats actually need.

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