The word post can mean a position, a job, a duty station—or even something you're doing on social media. That’s why knowing how to say Post in German is more than just about one translation. The word der Posten is one of the 1000 most frequently used nouns in German, and it covers a wide range of meanings—from job titles to guard duty to line items in a budget.

Posten is masculine—der Posten—and pronounced POS-ten, with the stress on the first syllable and a short, clear ending. If gender still feels like a guessing game, our short video lesson makes der, die, das intuitive—especially for learners who prefer real-life examples over grammar tables.

In German, der Posten most often refers to a job or position—usually one with responsibility or rank, such as ein wichtiger Posten in der Regierung (an important post in the government) or ein militärischer Posten (a military position or guard post). It can also mean a budget item or entry on a list, especially in accounting: ein Posten in der Bilanz (a line item in the balance sheet).

But careful: der Posten is not the same as die Post (mail) or ein Post (a social media post). Those are different words, even if they look and sound similar. This makes Posten a mild “false friend” for English speakers.

The opposite of Posten depends on the context. If you’re talking about a job, the opposite might be arbeitslos (unemployed). If you mean a guard post, the opposite could be Rückzug (withdrawal) or Abbau (removal).

In older or formal language, you may also hear Posten beziehen (to take up a post) or auf seinem Posten sein (to be at one’s post), particularly in military or bureaucratic contexts.

Example Sentences

Er hat einen neuen Posten im Innenministerium übernommen.
He took on a new post in the Ministry of the Interior.

Der Soldat musste die ganze Nacht auf seinem Posten bleiben.
The soldier had to stay at his post all night.

Jeder Posten in der Abrechnung muss überprüft werden.
Every item in the statement must be checked.

Beginner Dialogue

Lina: Was macht dein Bruder jetzt beruflich?
Oskar: Er hat einen Posten als Abteilungsleiter bekommen.

Translation
Lina: What does your brother do now?
Oskar: He got a post as department manager.

Duden entry:
https://www.duden.de/rechtschreibung/Posten

Want more words that shift meaning depending on context?
Take a look at Pech to learn how Germans talk about misfortune.
Or revisit Public to understand visibility, society, and transparency.

Viel Erfolg beim Deutschlernen – and keep posting wins in your vocabulary journey with words like Post in German.