Whether you're starting a job, organizing a team, or reading about business trends, the word employee is everywhere. Learning how to say employee in German gives you the tools to talk about work, company structure, and your own career.
The German word is der Mitarbeiter. It’s masculine, and the plural is die Mitarbeiter. There’s also die Mitarbeiterin for a female employee. For a quick and clear overview of German gender and articles, my gender video lesson is a great resource.
Mitarbeiter is one of the 1000 most frequently used nouns in German — and it appears in all kinds of formal and informal contexts, from small businesses to huge corporations.
Here’s how Mitarbeiter appears in the four cases:
Nominative:
Der Mitarbeiter ist neu.
The employee is new.
Accusative:
Wir suchen einen Mitarbeiter.
We’re looking for an employee.
Dative:
Ich spreche mit dem Mitarbeiter.
I’m speaking with the employee.
Genitive:
Die Meinung des Mitarbeiters zählt.
The opinion of the employee counts.
Mitarbeiter comes up in typical phrases like:
neue Mitarbeiter einstellen – to hire new employees
langjährige Mitarbeiter – long-term staff
Mitarbeitergespräch – employee review or evaluation
Mitarbeiterführung – employee management
Team aus engagierten Mitarbeitern – a team of committed employees
Verbs: einstellen (hire), kündigen (fire/resign), unterstützen (support), führen (lead), kommunizieren (communicate)
Adjectives: motiviert (motivated), zuverlässig (reliable), neu (new), wertvoll (valuable), unersetzlich (irreplaceable)
This word is essential for professional environments, but also comes up in casual conversation — especially when talking about work culture or team dynamics.
Beginner dialogue with Mitarbeiter:
A: Wie viele Mitarbeiter hat deine Firma?
B: Ungefähr zwanzig, in zwei Abteilungen.
A: How many employees does your company have?
B: Around twenty, in two departments.
Now it’s your turn. Think of your answer and say it aloud using Mitarbeiter or Mitarbeiterin.
“Was macht einen guten Mitarbeiter aus — und warum?”
What makes a good employee — and why?
Try forming just one full sentence — that's already a win.
German Word of the Day
Now you know how to say employee in German — and how der Mitarbeiter helps you talk about work, collaboration, and professional roles.
Download the free illustrated PDF of the 1000 most frequently used nouns in German and expand your vocabulary with confidence.
Ready for more German Words of the Day?
Check out Mittel — and explore tools, remedies, and strategies.
Or revisit Möglichkeit — and learn to express options, chances, and ideas.