Glossary of terms

An Abmahnung, literally translated as a "written warning" in English, is a formal request from one party to another to...

The term "Abmeldebescheinigung" translates literally to "deregistration certificate" in English. It is a document issued by German authorities to confirm...

Abmeldung, translating literally to "deregistration" or "cancellation" in English, is a term that encompasses various forms of deregistration processes in...

The term "Absichtserklärung" translates to "declaration of intent" or "letter of intent" in English. It is a document that outlines...

AGB stands for "Allgemeine Geschäftsbedingungen," which translates to General Terms and Conditions in English. These are the standard terms and...

The "Agentur für Arbeit" translates to "Employment Agency" in English. It plays a crucial role in the German labor market,...

The Aktivierungs- und Vermittlungsgutschein, literally translated as "Activation and Placement Voucher," is a tool provided by the German job centers...

ALG I, short for "Arbeitslosengeld I," translates to "Unemployment Benefit I" in English. It is a form of financial support...

ALG II, short for "Arbeitslosengeld II" and also known as Hartz IV, is a form of welfare assistance in Germany....

Altglascontainer, literally translated as "old glass container," refers to the designated bins for collecting used glass for recycling in Germany....

The Amtsgericht, literally translated as "District Court" in English, is the first level of the ordinary judiciary system in Germany....

The term "Anmeldebestätigung" translates literally to "registration confirmation" in English. It is a document that plays a crucial role in...

Anmeldung, literally translated as "registration" in English, is a fundamental administrative process in Germany. It involves registering your place of...

Arbeitsbescheinigung translates literally to "employment certificate" in English. It is a document that plays a crucial role in the administrative...

Arbeitslosenversicherung, literally translated as "unemployment insurance" in English, is a form of social security in Germany that provides financial support...

Arbeitstag translates to "working day" in English. It refers to the period of actual labor in a normal day at...

The term "Arbeitszeugnis" translates literally to "work certificate" or "employment reference" in English. It is a document provided by employers...

The Artist Visa is a special type of residence permit in Germany, specifically for artists looking to live and work...

An "Au pair" is a term that originates from French, meaning "on par" or "equal to," referring to a young...

The Au pair visa is a type of German national visa that allows young adults to live with a host...

The term "Aufenthaltstitel" translates literally to "residence title" in English. It refers to the various forms of legal documentation required...

"Augenarzt" translates to "ophthalmologist" in English, referring to a medical doctor specializing in eye and vision care. Ophthalmologists are trained...

Ausbildung, literally translated as "training" or "education" in English, is a term commonly used in Germany to refer to a...

The term "Ausländerbehörde" translates to "Foreigners' Registration Office" in English. It is a crucial institution for individuals moving to or...

The term "Azubi" is a colloquial abbreviation in German that translates literally to "apprentice" in English. It is derived from...

B2B stands for "Business to Business," a term that refers to transactions and interactions exclusively between businesses. In the context...

B2C, which stands for business-to-consumer, literally translates to "business to the end user." It refers to the process where businesses...

BaFin stands for the Federal Financial Supervisory Authority, which in German is known as the Bundesanstalt für Finanzdienstleistungsaufsicht. This term...

BAföG stands for Bundesausbildungsförderungsgesetz, which translates to the Federal Training Assistance Act in English. It is a German financial aid...

A "beglaubigte Übersetzung" translates literally to "certified translation" in English. It refers to a translation that has been officially verified...

The term "Beitragsbemessungsgrenze" translates to "income threshold for insurance contributions" in English. It is a concept used within the German...

The ARD ZDF Deutschlandradio Beitragsservice, often referred to as the "Beitragsservice," is the organisation responsible for collecting broadcasting contributions in...

Berliner Stadtreinigung, literally translated as "Berlin City Cleaning," is the municipal waste management company responsible for keeping the streets of...

Berufsakademien, literally translated as "vocational academies" or "colleges of cooperative education," are a unique type of higher education institution found...

The term "Berufsschule" translates to "vocational school" in English and refers to a type of educational institution in Germany. These...

Berufsunfähigkeitsversicherung, literally translated as "occupational disability insurance," is a form of insurance in Germany designed to provide financial support to...

Betriebskosten, literally translated as "operating costs," are expenses that property owners in Germany incur due to the ownership and use...

The Betriebskostenabrechnung, literally translated as "operating cost statement," is an annual financial statement that tenants in Germany receive. It details...

The term "Bildungsgutschein" translates to "education voucher" in English. It is a financial tool provided by the German government to...

Bildungsurlaub, literally translated as "educational leave," is a unique German concept that allows employees to take time off work for...

The Blaue Karte, or Blue Card in English, is a German residence permit designed for non-EU nationals who are highly...

Brillenversicherung translates to "glasses insurance" in English. It is a type of insurance coverage in Germany specifically for eyeglasses. What...

Brutto income, literally translated as "gross income" in English, refers to the total earnings of an individual or business before...

The term "Buchhalter" translates literally to "bookkeeper" in English. A Buchhalter is a professional who manages the financial records and...

The Bürgeramt, literally translated as "citizen's office," is a crucial administrative hub for residents in Germany. It is the go-to...

Bürgergeld, literally translated as "Citizen's Money," is a social welfare benefit in Germany designed to support individuals and their dependents...

The Bürgertelefon, literally translated as "citizens' telephone," is a helpline service provided by German authorities to assist citizens with various...

The BVG, short for Berliner Verkehrsbetriebe, is Berlin's main public transport company, known for managing the city's extensive network of...

The Category D visa, also known as the National Visa, is a German long-stay visa that allows individuals to reside...

Datenschutz, literally translated as "data protection," is a term that encapsulates the practices, laws, and regulations designed to safeguard personal...

Deckungszusage, literally translated as "coverage commitment" or "cover note" in English, is a term used in the insurance industry. What...

Deutsche Rentenversicherung, literally translated as "German Pension Insurance," is Germany's federal pension system. It plays a crucial role in the...

The DSGVO, short for "Datenschutz-Grundverordnung," translates to the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) in English. It is a significant piece...

The EC-Karte, short for "Eurocheque-Karte," is a term commonly used in Germany to refer to a debit card. Despite being...

An "Einbauküche" translates literally to "fitted kitchen" in English. It refers to a kitchen that is custom-built to fit the...

Einkommensteuer, literally translated as "income tax," is a tax levied on the income of individuals in Germany. It is a...

An Einschreibebrief, literally translated as "registered letter," is a postal service offering that provides additional security and proof of delivery...

Einweg translates to "single-use" in English. It refers to items that are designed to be used once and then discarded...

ELSTER, which stands for "Elektronische Steuererklärung" (electronic tax declaration), is a digital platform provided by the German tax authorities. It...

The term "Ertragsvorschau" translates to "revenue forecast" or "profit and loss statement" in English. It is a document that outlines...

The Europäischer Wirtschaftsraum (EWR), or European Economic Area (EEA) in English, is a unique partnership that extends the European Union's...

The eVB-Nummer, which stands for "elektronische Versicherungsbestätigung" in German, translates to "electronic insurance confirmation" in English. This number is a...

Fahrradversicherung, literally translated as "bicycle insurance" in English, is a type of insurance specifically designed to protect bicycles against theft,...

The term "Fahrzeugbrief" translates to "vehicle title document" in English. It is a crucial document in Germany that historically proved...

FairWertung, which literally translates to "fair valuation" in English, is a German term associated with the ethical collection and recycling...

Familienversicherung, literally translated as "family insurance," is a concept in German health insurance that allows family members to be included...

A family reunion visa is a type of visa that allows individuals to join their family members who are residing...

The Fiktionsbescheinigung, literally translated as "Fictional Certificate," is a temporary document issued in Germany. It serves as a provisional residence...

The Finanzamt, literally translated as "Finance Office," is a term that newcomers in Berlin will encounter frequently. It refers to...

The term "Finanzierungsnachweis" translates to "proof of financial resources" in English. It is a crucial document for individuals planning to...

The "Fragebogen zur steuerlichen Erfassung" translates to "Tax Registration Questionnaire" in English. It is a form used in Germany to...

Freiberufler, literally translated as "freelancer" in English, refers to self-employed professionals in Germany who offer specialized services based on their...

Freiwillig versichert translates to "voluntarily insured" in English. It refers to individuals in Germany who choose to have health insurance...

Gehaltsabrechnung, literally translating to "salary statement" in English, is a document that employees in Germany receive from their employers, detailing...

Geschäftskonto translates to "business account" in English. It is a type of bank account in Germany designed specifically for business...

The "gesetzliche Krankenversicherung" translates to "statutory health insurance" in English. It is a fundamental part of Germany's healthcare system, providing...

The "gesetzliche Rentenversicherung" translates to "statutory pension insurance" in English. It is a fundamental component of Germany's social security system,...

Gewerbe translates to "trade" or "business" in English. It refers to a self-employed commercial activity in Germany, encompassing a wide...

Gewerbeanmeldung translates to "trade registration" in English. It is a mandatory step for individuals in Germany who wish to start...

A Gewerbeschein, literally translated as "trade license" in English, is a document issued by the local trade office (Gewerbeamt) in...

The term "Gewerbesteuer" translates to "trade tax" in English and refers to a tax levied on the income of businesses...

A "Gewerbetreibender" is a term used in Germany to describe a self-employed individual whose business is registered as a trade....

Gewinn, translated into English as "profit," is a fundamental concept in both economics and everyday business language. It represents the...

GEZ, short for "Gebühreneinzugszentrale," translates to "Fee Collection Center" in English. This term is commonly associated with the public broadcasting...

The Girocard, often still colloquially referred to as an "EC card" (Electronic Cash), is a popular German debit card system...

GmbH, which stands for "Gesellschaft mit beschränkter Haftung," translates to "Company with Limited Liability" in English. This term refers to...

Grunderwerbsteuer, literally translated as "real estate transfer tax" in English, is a tax levied on the acquisition of property in...

Grundschule, literally translated as "primary school," is the first stage of the German education system for children. What is "Grundschule"?...

The Grundsteuer, or property tax in English, is a tax levied on the ownership of land and buildings in Germany....

The "Grüne Karte," literally translated as "Green Card" in English, is an international motor insurance card system that serves as...

The "Grüner Punkt," literally translated as "Green Dot," is a symbol that consumers in Germany and other European countries might...

Haftpflichtversicherung, or liability insurance in English, is a type of insurance that provides coverage for individuals against claims resulting from...

The Handelsregister, or Commercial Register in English, is a public directory maintained electronically at local courts (Amtsgerichte) in Germany. It...

The Handelsregisternummer, literally translated as "Trade Register Number," is a unique identifier assigned to businesses when they are listed in...

Hartz IV, literally translated as "Hartz Four," refers to the fourth phase of the Hartz reforms in Germany, aimed at...

The term "Hauptmieter" translates to "main tenant" in English. It refers to an individual who holds the primary lease agreement...

The Hauptuntersuchung (HU), literally translated as "main inspection," is a mandatory vehicle inspection in Germany. It ensures that vehicles meet...

The term "Hausarzt" translates literally to "house doctor" in English, commonly referred to as a family doctor or general practitioner....

A "Hausordnung" translates to "house rules" in English and refers to a set of regulations intended to ensure harmonious living...

Hausratversicherung, or home contents insurance in English, is a type of insurance that covers the movable items within your home....

Hausverwaltung, literally translated as "house administration," refers to property management in Germany. It involves the administration and maintenance of residential...

The term "Höchstbeitrag" translates to "maximum contribution" in English. What is "Höchstbeitrag"? "Höchstbeitrag" refers to the maximum amount that individuals...

The Hundeführerschein, literally translated as "dog driving license," is a certification process in Germany that assesses the knowledge and skills...

Hunderegister, literally translated as "dog register" in English, refers to a system where dogs are registered and their information is...

The Hundesteuer, or dog tax, is a municipal tax levied on dog owners in Germany. This tax is not uniform...

The Hundesteuermarke, literally translated as "dog tax tag" in English, is a metallic tag issued to dog owners in Germany...

The International Bank Account Number (IBAN) is a system internationally agreed upon to identify bank accounts across national borders. Its...

The Industrie- und Handelskammer (IHK), translated as the Chamber of Commerce and Industry, is a pivotal institution in Germany that...

The Impfausweis, known in English as the vaccination record or immunization passport, is a document that records an individual's vaccinations....

An "Impressum" is a legal term used primarily in German-speaking countries, including Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, which translates to "imprint"...

The Internationaler Führerschein, or International Driving Permit (IDP) in English, is a document that serves as a translation of your...

An internship visa in Germany, known as "Praktikum Visum" in German, is a type of national visa that allows individuals...

IPID can refer to two distinct concepts: the Independent Police Investigative Directorate or an Insurance Product Information Document. Both have...

The Job Seeker Visa for Germany is a long-term residency permit that allows individuals to stay in the country for...

The Jobcenter is a German public institution responsible for providing employment and social services to people living in Germany. The...

Kaltmiete, literally translating to "cold rent" in English, is a term commonly used in the German real estate market. What...

Kapitalertragsteuer, literally translated as "capital gains tax" in English, is a tax levied on income generated from capital investments in...

A "Kaufvertrag" translates to "purchase contract" in English. It is a legal agreement between two parties, the buyer and the...

Kaution, literally translated as "deposit" in English, is a term commonly encountered in various contexts within Germany, particularly in the...

Kfz-Versicherung, which translates to "car insurance" in English, is a mandatory requirement for all vehicle owners in Germany. This insurance...

The "Kfz-Zulassungsstelle" translates to "Vehicle Registration Office" in English. It is a crucial place for car owners and buyers in...

The "Kinderfreibetrag" translates to "child allowance" in English, referring to a fixed amount deducted from taxable income in Germany, thereby...

Kindergeld is a financial support provided by the German government to families, translating literally to "child money" in English. What...

Kirchensteuer, or church tax, is a unique financial obligation in Germany, translating literally to "church tax" in English. What is...

Kita, short for "Kindertagesstätte," literally translates to "children's day site" in English, which can be understood as a daycare center...

Kitagutschein, literally translating to "daycare voucher" in English, is a crucial document for parents in Berlin seeking childcare services for...

A "Kleinunternehmer" translates to "small business owner" in English. This term refers to individuals or entities that qualify for a...

A "Kontoauszug" translates to "bank statement" in English. It is a document that lists all transactions that have occurred over...

Kraftfahrzeugsteuer, literally translated as "motor vehicle tax," is a tax imposed on the ownership of motor vehicles in Germany. This...

Krankengeld is a financial support provided by statutory health insurance in Germany to those who are unable to work due...

Krankenkasse, literally translated as "sickness fund" in English, refers to a public health insurance company in Germany. These entities are...

Krankentagegeld, literally translated as "sick day money," is a financial benefit in Germany designed to support individuals who are unable...

The term "Krankenversicherung" translates to "health insurance" in English. It is a system designed to cover the cost of medical...

Krankschreibung, literally translated as "sick writing," is a term used in Germany to refer to a medical certificate or doctor's...

The term "Kündigungsfrist" translates to "notice period" in English. It refers to the time frame that must elapse between the...

A Kündigungsschreiben, or cancellation letter in English, is a formal document used to terminate a contract or agreement. It is...

The Künstlersozialkasse (KSK) translates to "Artists' Social Insurance Fund" in English. It is a unique social security system for artists...

Kurzzeitkennzeichen, literally translated as "short-term license plate," is a temporary registration used for vehicles in Germany. What is "Kurzzeitkennzeichen"? Kurzzeitkennzeichen...

The Landesamt für Einwanderung, literally translated as the State Office for Immigration, is a crucial institution for individuals looking to...

Lebensversicherung, literally translated as "life insurance" in English, is a financial product designed to provide financial security to the insured's...

The term "Lohnabrechnung" translates to "payroll accounting" or "wage slip" in English. It is a document that details an employee's...

The term "Lohnsteuer" translates to "wage tax" in English. It refers to the income tax that is deducted directly from...

The Lohnsteuerbescheinigung, or wage tax certificate in English, is a document that every employee in Germany receives from their employer...

A Lohnsteuerhilfeverein, literally translated as "income tax assistance association," is a German non-profit organization that provides help with income tax...

Makler, literally translated as "broker" or "agent" in English, is a term commonly encountered in the German real estate market....

Mehrweg, literally translated as "multiple use" or "reusable," refers to a system of packaging that is designed to be reused...

The Meldebescheinigung is a German term that translates to "registration certificate" in English. It serves as an official document confirming...

The Mietendeckel, literally translated as "rent cap," was a controversial law introduced in Berlin, Germany, aimed at freezing and controlling...

Mieterverein, literally translated as "tenant association" in English, is an organization that provides legal assistance and support to renters. These...

A Mietkautionskonto, literally translated as "rental deposit account," is a special type of bank account used in Germany to hold...

The Mietpreisbremse, literally translated as "rent brake," is a regulatory measure in Germany designed to curb rapid rent increases in...

The Mietschuldenfreiheitsbescheinigung, which literally translates to "rent debt freedom certificate," is a document from a landlord confirming that a tenant...

The term "Mindestbeitrag" translates to "minimum contribution" in English. It refers to the lowest amount that must be paid into...

The term "Mindestlohn" translates to "minimum wage" in English. It refers to the lowest wage that employers can legally pay...

A Minijob, literally translated as "mini job," refers to a type of marginal employment in Germany where the income is...

The Monatskarte, literally translated as "monthly ticket," is a type of public transport ticket available in Berlin and other German...

The term "Nationale Visa" translates to "National Visa" in English. What is "Nationale Visa"? A Nationale Visa is a type...

The term "Nebenerwerb" literally translates to "side income" or "secondary occupation" in English. What is "Nebenerwerb"? "Nebenerwerb" refers to the...

Nebenkosten, literally translated as "additional costs" or "utility costs," are the expenses included in the warm rent of a rental...

The Nebenkostenabrechnung, literally translated as "operating cost statement" or "service charge statement," is an annual financial statement that tenants in...

Netto income, or "Nettoeinkommen" in German, refers to the amount of money an individual takes home after all taxes and...

Netto-Gewinnermittlung, literally translated as "net profit determination," is a financial document that outlines the profitability of a business. It is...

Niederlassungserlaubnis, literally translated as "settlement permit," is a term many new Berliners will come across. It refers to the permanent...

Optiker, literally translated as "optician" in English, refers to professionals who specialize in fitting and dispensing eyeglasses and contact lenses...

The Ordnungsamt, literally translated as "Order Office" or "Regulatory Authority," is a municipal office in Germany responsible for maintaining public...

Packstation, literally translating to "package station" in English, is a service provided by DHL that allows individuals to receive and...

A Paketshop, literally translated as "package shop" in English, is a convenient location where individuals can send and receive parcels....

The "Personalausweis" translates to "identity card" in English. It is a legal document issued by the German government that serves...

Pfand, translating to "deposit" in English, is a term familiar to anyone living in or visiting Germany, especially in the...

The Pfandautomat, literally translated as "deposit machine," is a common sight in Germany, particularly in supermarkets and beverage markets. What...

The Pfändungsschutzkonto, commonly referred to as a "P-Konto," is a German bank account with a garnishment protection feature. Literally translated,...

The Pflegeversicherung, literally translated as "care insurance," is a mandatory insurance scheme in Germany that covers the costs associated with...

The term "Pflichtversicherung" translates to "compulsory insurance" in English. What is "Pflichtversicherung"? "Pflichtversicherung" refers to insurance that individuals are legally...

PostIdent is a verification process introduced by Deutsche Post to meet the identification requirements of banks and other institutions in...

A Postleitzahl, literally translated as "postal code" in English, is a system of postal codes used in Germany to identify...

Private Krankenversicherung (PKV) translates to "private health insurance" in English. It is an alternative to the statutory or public health...

Probezeit translates to "probation period" in English. It is a term commonly encountered by employees in Germany, marking an initial...

Provision, translated into English as "commission" or "provision," is a term commonly encountered in various contexts within Germany. It often...

A "Prüfungsbericht" translates to "audit report" in English and is a formal document that summarizes the findings of an audit....

The term "Rechtsschutzversicherung" translates to "legal protection insurance" in English. What is "Rechtsschutzversicherung"? Rechtsschutzversicherung is a type of insurance in...

The Ringbahn is Berlin's circular railway line that loops around the central districts of the city. Its literal translation in...

The Rundfunkbeitrag, literally translated as "broadcasting contribution," is a fee that supports public broadcasting in Germany. Every household in Germany...

The S-Bahn is a rapid transit railway system in Germany, with the Berlin S-Bahn being one of its most notable...

Saisonkennzeichen, literally translated as "seasonal license plate," is a type of vehicle registration in Germany that allows vehicles to be...

The Schadenfreiheitsklasse, literally translated as "no-claims category," is a system used by German car insurance companies to determine the insurance...

Schattenmiete, literally translated as "shadow rent," refers to a secondary, often higher, rent amount agreed upon in a rental contract....

Scheinselbstständigkeit, literally translated as "bogus self-employment," is a term used in German labor law. What is "Scheinselbstständigkeit"? Scheinselbstständigkeit refers to...

Schengen Visum, often referred to as a Schengen Visa in English, is a type of visa that allows travelers to...

The Schengen Area, often referred to as "Schengen," is a zone where 26 European countries have abolished their internal borders,...

Schufa, short for "Schutzgemeinschaft für allgemeine Kreditsicherung," translates to "Credit Protection Association for General Loan Security" in English. It is...

The term "selbständig" is a German word that translates to "self-employed" or "independent" in English. What is "selbständig"? In Germany,...

The term "Selbstbeteiligung" translates to "deductible" in English and refers to the amount that insured individuals must pay out of...

The SEPA Direct Debit Mandate, known in German as "SEPA-Lastschriftmandat," is a crucial document for cashless payments within the Single...

SEPA-Überweisung, which translates to SEPA transfer in English, is a standardized payment method used for executing euro transactions within the...

The Solidaritätszuschlag, or "solidarity surcharge" in English, is a tax levied in Germany on top of the income and corporate...

The Sozialversicherungsnummer, literally translated as "Social Insurance Number" in English, is a unique identifier used in Germany primarily for the...

The term "Späti" is a colloquial abbreviation for "Spätkauf," which translates to "late shop" in English. These are convenience stores...

A "Sperrkonto" translates to a "blocked account" in English, which is a special type of bank account primarily used by...

A Steuerberater, literally translated as "tax advisor" in English, is a professional in Germany who provides tax advisory services. This...

The term "Steuerbescheid" translates to "tax assessment notice" in English. It is a document issued by the tax authorities to...

The term "Steuererklärung" translates to "tax return" in English. It refers to the process of reporting income, expenses, and other...

The Steueridentifikationsnummer, often abbreviated as Steuer-ID, is an 11-digit number assigned to every registered person in Germany. Its literal translation...

The term "Steuerklasse" translates to "tax class" in English. It refers to the categories under which taxpayers are grouped in...

The Steuernummer, or tax number, is a unique identifier assigned to taxpayers in Germany. It is used by the tax...

Stoßlüften, literally translated as "shock ventilation" or "burst airing," is a German term that refers to the practice of briefly...

The term "Studentenvisum" translates to "student visa" in English. What is "Studentenvisum"? A Studentenvisum is a type of visa required...

Teilkasko, literally translated as "partial cover" in English, is a type of car insurance in Germany that provides coverage for...

The term "Tierkrankenversicherung" translates to "pet health insurance" in English. This type of insurance is designed to cover the veterinary...

Trinkgeld, literally translated as "drinking money" in English, is a tip given for services rendered. What is "Trinkgeld"? In Germany,...

The term "TÜV" stands for "Technischer Überwachungsverein," which translates to "Technical Inspection Association" in English. It is a concept that...

The U-Bahn, short for "Untergrundbahn," translates to "underground railway" in English. It is a rapid transit system that serves as...

The term "Übergabeprotokoll" translates to "handover protocol" or "transfer protocol" in English. It refers to a document that records the...

The UG (haftungsbeschränkt), which stands for "Unternehmergesellschaft (haftungsbeschränkt)" and translates to "entrepreneurial company (with limited liability)", is a legal form...

Ummeldung is a German term that translates to "re-registration" in English. It refers to the process of updating one's registered...