21 December 2025
How do you say Service or Duty in German?
Whether you’re on the job, on patrol, or just getting Netflix to work, Germans call it Dienst. It’s about serving, working, being on call - or sometimes, the thing being provided to you.
The noun Dienst means service, duty, or employment, depending on context. It’s one of the 1000 most frequently used nouns in German, and you’ll hear it in offices, hospitals, the military, and your phone’s app settings.
It’s a masculine noun, so we say der Dienst.
Pronunciation
Dienst is pronounced [diːnst], with long ie and a final nst cluster.
- The “ie” gives it a long “ee” sound,
- And the “st” snaps tight and firm, like the start of “stop.”
It’s quick and businesslike - just like the thing it describes.
Example sentences:
- Ich habe heute Dienst bis Mitternacht.I’m on duty until midnight today.
- Der Streaming-Dienst bietet neue Serien an.The streaming service offers new shows.
Nuance and usage tips
Dienst is one of those ultra-adaptable German words. Depending on context, it can mean:
- Being on duty / work shift
- Spätdienst - late shift
- Notdienst - emergency duty
- im Dienst sein - to be on duty
- Professional service / function
- Zivildienst - civilian alternative service for conscientious objectors (in Germany, suspended along with compulsory military service in 2011)
- Kundendienst - customer service
- im öffentlichen Dienst - in public service / civil service
- A digital or structured service offering
- Streaming-Dienst - streaming platform
- Onlinedienst - online service
For on-duty versus off-duty, compare:
- im Dienst / außer Dienst - on duty / off duty; Freizeit is free time, Urlaub is vacation
Grammatical case examples:
- Nominative:Der Dienst beginnt um sieben Uhr.The shift starts at seven o’clock.
- Accusative:Ich trete morgen meinen Dienst an.I’m starting my duty tomorrow.
- Dative:Mit dem Dienst kommen auch viele Verpflichtungen.With the job come many responsibilities.
- Genitive:Wegen des Dienstes konnte er nicht teilnehmen.Because of the duty, he couldn’t attend.
Masculine case pattern: der, den, dem, des
Word variations and language tidbits
Variation Station:
- Dienstplan - work schedule
- Dienstreise - business trip
außer Dienst - off duty or out of service; after a former official title, a. D. means retired (Major a. D.) - Dienstgrad - military rank
- Kundendienst - customer support
- Diener - servant (historical or metaphorical)
Idiomatic note:The phrase zu Diensten! is an old-fashioned, overly polite way to say “At your service!” - now mostly used humorously or in period dramas. Dienstag (Tuesday) is not derived from Dienst; its name is traced to the Germanic god Ziu and his role as protector of the Thing (assembly).
📘 Duden entry: https://www.duden.de/rechtschreibung/Dienst
🎥 Learn Dienst and the rest of the top 1000 German nouns in our free online video course:Watch the 1000 German Nouns video course
Alternate translations note:For “service” in a ceremonial or religious sense, Gottesdienst is the specific term. If you’re referring to helpfulness or favor, Hilfe or Gefallen might be more natural. But for work-related duty, formal service, or digital services, Dienst is the go-to.
Ready for two more German words of the day? How about Bescheid or Führer?
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