Meaning of the word arbeiten ("arbeiten"). It is very simple!

Sometimes in the chief’s speech one can hear such strange phrases as “Arbeiten schnele!”, “Arbeiten und discipline!” or "Arbeiten, nicht is shpatsyren!". What is "arbeiten" in translation into Russian? What does the boss want from you and how to answer him correctly?

Arbeiten as a verb

Arbeiten ("arbeiten") is translated from German as "work". Please note: the stress always falls on the first syllable! Also, "arbeiten" is to work, try, be engaged, act, make an effort, be active, be busy, engage in craft, manufacture, train, and so on.

1. Das Herz des Patienten arbeitet regelmäßig. - The patient’s heart is constantly working.
2. Es ist notwendig, dieses Kostüm auf Taille arbeiten. - It is necessary to sew this suit at the waist.
3. Der Mechanismus arbeitet einwandfrei. - The mechanism is functioning flawlessly.
4. Der Ruderer musste schwer arbeiten, um gegen die Strömung anzukommen. - The rower had to work hard to swim against the stream.
5. Der Lehrer arbeitet jeden Tag mit Kindern. - The teacher is engaged with children every day.

The use of arbeiten with prepositions and prefixes

The use of prepositions with a verb occurs in the same way as in the Russian language: each has its own meaning and application possibilities. The list of prepositions used with "arbeiten":

• Am ... arbeiten - work in ... (time, place).

Ich arbeite am Sonntag. - I work on Sunday.

• Während ... arbeiten - work on time, for.

Ich habe während der Ferien gearbeitet. - I worked during the holidays.

• Unter ... arbeiten - work under.

Er arbeitet unter der Aufsicht des Chefdesigners. - He works under the leadership of the chief designer.

• In ... arbeiten - work in.

Wir arbeiten in Berlin. - We work in Berlin.

• Für ... arbeiten - work for, for.

Zwei Jahre lang arbeitete sie für die Volkswagen AG. - For two years she worked for Volkswagen.

• Bei ... arbeiten - work for, in.

Arbeitest du bei einer Verpackungsfabrik? - Do you work at a packaging factory?

• An ... arbeiten - work on.

Wir arbeiten alle lange an dem Projekt. - We all work on the project for a long time.

But "arbeiten" is not only about "working." Thanks to prefixes, the meaning of a word can change beyond recognition. Let's look at specific examples:

• einarbeiten - introduce, introduce, get involved;
• totarbeiten - to torment;
• emporarbeiten - to promote;
• mitarbeiten - to participate, collaborate;
• nacharbeiten - catch up;
• abarbeiten - to process, to exhaust;
• erarbeiten - do, advance;
• hinarbeiten - to seek;
• bearbeiten - process, develop;
• aufarbeiten - to complete;
• ausarbeiten - develop, compose;
• durcharbeiten - to work out, to work out;
• kurzarbeiten - not working full time;
• überarbeiten - recycle, earn money.

1. Der neue Kollege muss sich erst einarbeiten. - A new colleague must first get in the know.
2. Wir haben an diesem Projekt auch mitgearbeitet. - We also worked together on this project.
3. Sie arbeiteten die ganze Nacht durch. “They worked all night.”

Verb conjugations

Arbeiten (arbeiten) is a weak verb. So, it changes according to the basic rules of conjugation of the German language.

In the present tense (Präsens), to the stem of the verb arbeit are added:

• the letter "e" in the third person singular and in the second person plural, as the word base ends in -t;
• the end of a weak verb, depending on the personal pronoun.

As you can see from the table, the endings are the same for ihr and er / sie / es, as well as for sie and Sie.

1. Ich arbeite diesen Monat sehr viel. - I work a lot this month.
2. Sie arbeiten diesen Monat sehr wenig. - They work very little this month.
3. Sie arbeitet als Ingenieurin in einer Fabrik. - She works as an engineer in a factory.
4. Er arbeitet für zwei. - He works for two.

In the simple past tense (Präteritum), the suffix -t- with the connecting letter "e" is added to the present tense verb:

• ich arbeite (I work) - present;
• ich arbeitete (I worked) - simple past tense.

It also happens when a verb is conjugated with other pronouns:

• du arbeitest (you work) - du arbeitetest (you worked);
• er arbeitet (it works) - er arbeitetet (it worked);
• wir arbeiten (we work) - wir arbeiteten (we worked);
• ihr arbeitet (you work) - ihr arbeitetet (you work);
• sie arbeiten (they work) - sie arbeiteten (they worked);
• Sie arbeiten (you work) - Sie arbeiteten (you work).

1. Gestern arbeitete ich bis in den späten Abend. - Yesterday I worked until late at night.
2. Wir arbeiteten für ihn. - We worked for him.

When using the verb in perfect and plusquamperfect, the prefix ge- and the ending -et are added to the word base. Only the auxiliary verb haben conjugates in these tenses. Arbeiten takes the following form:

• ge + arbeit + et = gearbeitet.

1. Du hast diese Woche gut gearbeitet. “You did well this week.”
2. Haben Sie heute schon gearbeitet? - Have you already worked today?
3. Gans hatte in der Verwaltung in Hamburg gearbeitet. - Hans worked in the administration in Hamburg.

In the future tense, the verb takes the form of the infinitive arbeiten. Only the verb werden conjugates as an auxiliary verb.

1. Wirst du bis 22 Uhr arbeiten? - Will you work until 10 pm?
2. Ihr werdet in Gruppen arbeiten. - You will work in groups.

In the imperative mood, the verb has only three forms.

1. Arbeit! - Work!
2. Arbeitet! - Work! - appeal to several people, with each of whom communication is informal.
3. Arbeiten Sie, bitte! - Work, please! (with a formal request).

Noun die Arbeit

In addition, arbeiten (arbeiten) is also a noun. Die Arbeit - work, occupation, activities and more. Emphasis always falls on the first syllable. To the feminine noun in the plural, the ending –en is added. So die Arbeiten means work, occupation.

1. Die Arbeiten sind zu übersenden an: (die Adresse) - Works must be sent to: (address).
2. Unter der Erde fortsetzen die Arbeiten - Underground work continues.

Now you know what “arbeiten” means in the translation, which means that you will no longer look at the boss with an incomprehensible look. Better tell him: Ja, Führer! ("Yes, leader!") And smile.