If you’re an engineer, software developer, or IT professional working in Germany (or with German-speaking clients), technical German is a must.
While general German courses teach everyday phrases, the engineering and IT world has its own language—filled with technical terms, structured communication, and workplace etiquette.
This post provides 100+ essential words and phrases to help you communicate effectively in technical environments, from meetings and emails to troubleshooting and software development.
🏗️ 1. Engineering & Technical Terms (Ingenieurwesen & Technik)
| German | English |
|---|---|
| die Technik | technology, engineering |
| die Maschine | machine |
| das Gerät | device |
| das Bauteil | component, part |
| die Konstruktion | construction, design |
| die Fertigung | manufacturing |
| die Wartung | maintenance |
| der Mechanismus | mechanism |
| das Material | material |
| die Belastung | load, stress |
| die Spannung | tension, voltage |
| der Widerstand | resistance |
| die Strömung | flow |
| die Reibung | friction |
| die Schaltung | circuit |
✅ Pro Tip: In German engineering, precision is everything. Words like genau (exact), präzise (precise), and zuverlässig (reliable) are used often.
💻 2. IT & Software Development (IT & Softwareentwicklung)
| German | English |
|---|---|
| die Software | software |
| die Hardware | hardware |
| die Datenbank | database |
| die Benutzeroberfläche | user interface (UI) |
| die Programmiersprache | programming language |
| der Algorithmus | algorithm |
| die Verschlüsselung | encryption |
| die Firewall | firewall |
| der Server | server |
| die Cloud | cloud |
| die Künstliche Intelligenz (KI) | artificial intelligence (AI) |
| das maschinelle Lernen | machine learning |
| der Fehler | error, bug |
| das Update | update |
| die Netzwerksicherheit | network security |
✅ Pro Tip: Germans use many English words in IT, but sometimes they modify them. For example, “einloggen” (to log in) and “downgeloadet” (downloaded) are common.
🏢 3. Workplace Communication (Arbeitskommunikation im Büro)
| German | English |
|---|---|
| die Besprechung | meeting |
| das Projekt | project |
| der Meilenstein | milestone |
| die Deadline | deadline |
| der Fortschritt | progress |
| das Problem | problem |
| die Lösung | solution |
| die Verantwortung | responsibility |
| das Team | team |
| die Zusammenarbeit | collaboration |
| der Zeitplan | schedule, timeline |
| der Bericht | report |
| die Präsentation | presentation |
| das Budget | budget |
| die Anforderung | requirement |
✅ Cultural Tip: Germans love structured communication. Be direct, but never overpromise—only say “Das ist machbar” (That’s doable) if you’re sure!
📧 4. Business Emails & Reports (E-Mails & Berichte im technischen Bereich)
📌 Email Greetings (Anrede)
| German | English |
|---|---|
| Sehr geehrte(r) Herr/Frau [Last Name], | Dear Mr./Ms. [Last Name], (formal) |
| Guten Tag Herr/Frau [Last Name], | Good day Mr./Ms. [Last Name], (semi-formal) |
| Hallo [First Name], | Hello [First Name], (casual) |
📌 Useful Email Phrases
| German | English |
|---|---|
| Ich schreibe Ihnen bezüglich… | I am writing to you regarding… |
| Bitte finden Sie anbei… | Please find attached… |
| Wir müssen den Termin verschieben. | We need to reschedule the appointment. |
| Haben Sie die Spezifikationen überprüft? | Have you checked the specifications? |
| Ich werde Ihnen die aktualisierte Version zusenden. | I will send you the updated version. |
| Ich freue mich auf Ihre Rückmeldung. | I look forward to your response. |
✅ Cultural Tip: In German business communication, clarity and politeness matter. Always proofread emails before sending them!
📞 5. Technical Meetings & Discussions (Technische Besprechungen & Diskussionen)
| German | English |
|---|---|
| Lassen Sie uns das Problem analysieren. | Let’s analyze the problem. |
| Welche Lösungsansätze gibt es? | What solutions are available? |
| Wir müssen die Anforderungen klären. | We need to clarify the requirements. |
| Der aktuelle Stand des Projekts ist… | The current status of the project is… |
| Ich werde die Ergebnisse dokumentieren. | I will document the results. |
| Gibt es noch offene Fragen? | Are there any remaining questions? |
| Wir brauchen eine Fehlersuche. | We need troubleshooting. |
✅ Pro Tip: In German engineering meetings, expect detailed discussions and lots of graphs, data, and documentation.
⚡ 6. Common Technical Errors & Troubleshooting (Fehlermeldungen & Problemlösungen)
| German | English |
|---|---|
| der Fehler | error, bug |
| die Fehlermeldung | error message |
| das Problem | problem |
| die Störung | malfunction, disruption |
| die Lösung | solution |
| das Update | update |
| der Neustart | restart |
| die Wartung | maintenance |
| das Backup | backup |
| die Kompatibilität | compatibility |
| die Verbindung | connection |
✅ Pro Tip: Engineers and IT professionals often say “Es gibt ein Problem” (There is a problem) instead of just “Problem”—full sentences are preferred.
🔧 7. Tools & Equipment (Werkzeuge & Ausrüstung)
| German | English |
|---|---|
| das Werkzeug | tool |
| der Schraubenzieher | screwdriver |
| die Zange | pliers |
| der Hammer | hammer |
| die Bohrmaschine | drill |
| das Messgerät | measuring device |
| das Kabel | cable |
| die Steckdose | power socket |
| der Sensor | sensor |
| das Modul | module |
✅ Cultural Tip: In engineering workplaces, safety (Sicherheit) is taken seriously—always wear protective gear when needed.
🎯 Final Thoughts: Mastering Business German for Engineers & IT
✅ Technical German is a different beast—learn industry-specific words to communicate clearly.
✅ Be precise in emails & meetings—avoid vague statements.
✅ Understand workplace culture—structure, documentation, and deadlines are key in German companies.
💬 What’s the hardest part of using German in engineering or IT? Let us know in the comments! 🚀🇩🇪