Whether you’re talking about the person at the next desk, someone in your study group, or even a friendly rival at a conference, learning how to say colleague in German gives you the language to navigate professional and social spaces with confidence.
The word is Kollege — pronounced “koh-LEH-guh,” with the second syllable stressed and a soft final "guh" sound, like in mega. It’s instantly recognizable and widely used in both formal and informal contexts.
Kollege is masculine, so it's der Kollege. The plural is die Kollegen. There's also the feminine form, die Kollegin (plural: Kolleginnen). For a fast track to getting gender right in context, check out my gender video lesson.
It’s no surprise that Kollege is one of the 1000 most frequently used nouns in German — after all, we’re always working with, talking to, or talking about the people around us.
Examples in all four cases:
Nominative:
Der Kollege ist sehr hilfsbereit.
The colleague is very helpful.
Accusative:
Ich habe den Kollegen gestern getroffen.
I met the colleague yesterday.
Dative:
Ich arbeite oft mit dem Kollegen zusammen.
I often work together with the colleague.
Genitive:
Die Meinung des Kollegen ist wichtig.
The colleague’s opinion is important.
Real-World Tips for Learners
Kollege and Kollegin are used broadly in German — not just in formal workplaces, but also among students, volunteers, and even casually among acquaintances. It's often used as a warm, respectful term, even when the relationship isn’t strictly professional.
In daily life, you’ll hear:
ein neuer Kollege – a new colleague
ein netter Kollege – a nice co-worker
Kollegen treffen sich nach der Arbeit – colleagues meet after work
Ich habe gute Kollegen – I have great coworkers
It’s especially common in teamwork settings, where the bond between coworkers is informal but supportive. You’ll even hear it used in union or political contexts — as in Liebe Kolleginnen und Kollegen… (Dear colleagues...).
Beginner dialogue using Kollege:
A: Wie verstehst du dich mit deinem neuen Kollegen?
B: Ganz gut. Er ist freundlich und hilfsbereit.
A: How do you get along with your new colleague?
B: Pretty well. He’s friendly and helpful.
Now it’s your turn. Think of your answer and say it aloud using Kollege.
“Was macht einen guten Kollegen oder eine gute Kollegin aus?”
What makes a good colleague?
Say your answer out loud in German and include Kollege (or Kollegin) in your sentence.
German Word of the Day
Now you know how to say colleague in German — and how der Kollege or die Kollegin lets you talk about teamwork, workplace culture, and social relationships with ease.
Download the free illustrated PDF of the 1000 most frequently used nouns in German and build your German vocabulary around the people who matter.
Ready for more German Words of the Day?
Check out Kohle — great for slang and literal meanings.
Or revisit Kommandant — perfect for talking about leadership and control.