Job titles are the names of specific roles or positions that people hold in their work. They help describe what a person does for a living. Here are job titles in three languages: Spanish, German, and Mandarin (Chinese), along with their English equivalents.
Spanish Job Titles
Common Spanish Job Titles
These are some of the most common job titles you might encounter in Spanish-speaking countries.
| Spanish Job Title | English Job Title | Example Sentence (Spanish) | Example Sentence (English) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Médico / Médica | Doctor | La médica trabaja en el hospital. | The doctor works in the hospital. |
| Ingeniero / Ingeniera | Engineer | El ingeniero diseña puentes. | The engineer designs bridges. |
| Profesor / Profesora | Teacher | La profesora enseña matemáticas. | The teacher teaches math. |
| Abogado / Abogada | Lawyer | El abogado defiende a su cliente. | The lawyer defends their client. |
| Enfermero / Enfermera | Nurse | La enfermera cuida a los pacientes. | The nurse takes care of patients. |
| Contador / Contadora | Accountant | El contador revisa las cuentas. | The accountant checks the accounts. |
| Arquitecto / Arquitecta | Architect | La arquitecta crea planos de edificios. | The architect creates building plans. |
| Cocinero / Cocinera | Chef / Cook | El cocinero prepara la cena. | The chef prepares dinner. |
| Policía | Police Officer | La policía patrulla la ciudad. | The police officer patrols the city. |
| Jornalero / Jornalera | Day Laborer | El jornalero trabaja en el campo. | The day laborer works in the field. |
Gender Note
In Spanish, many job titles change ending based on gender: -o for males and -a for females (e.g., médico / médica). Some job titles are the same for both genders (e.g., policía).
German Job Titles
Common German Job Titles
Here are some typical job titles in German.
| German Job Title | English Job Title | Example Sentence (German) | Example Sentence (English) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arzt / Ärztin | Doctor | Die Ärztin arbeitet im Krankenhaus. | The doctor works in the hospital. |
| Ingenieur / Ingenieurin | Engineer | Der Ingenieur entwirft Brücken. | The engineer designs bridges. |
| Lehrer / Lehrerin | Teacher | Die Lehrerin unterrichtet Mathe. | The teacher teaches math. |
| Anwalt / Anwältin | Lawyer | Der Anwalt verteidigt seinen Mandanten. | The lawyer defends their client. |
| Krankenschwester | Nurse | Die Krankenschwester pflegt die Patienten. | The nurse takes care of patients. |
| Buchhalter / Buchhalterin | Accountant | Der Buchhalter prüft die Konten. | The accountant checks the accounts. |
| Architekt / Architektin | Architect | Die Architektin erstellt Baupläne. | The architect creates building plans. |
| Koch / Köchin | Chef / Cook | Der Koch bereitet das Abendessen zu. | The chef prepares dinner. |
| Polizist / Polizistin | Police Officer | Die Polizistin patrouilliert die Stadt. | The police officer patrols the city. |
| Tagelöhner | Day Laborer | Der Tagelöhner arbeitet auf dem Feld. | The day laborer works in the field. |
Gender Note
German job titles have gendered forms: -er for males and -in for females (e.g., Arzt / Ärztin). Some titles are fixed, like Krankenschwester (female nurse). Plurals use -en (e.g., Ärztinnen).
Mandarin Job Titles
Common Mandarin Job Titles
Mandarin Chinese job titles are usually gender-neutral and often include the character for "person" (人, rén).
| Mandarin Job Title | English Job Title | Example Sentence (Mandarin) | Example Sentence (English) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 医生 (yīshēng) | Doctor | 医生在医院工作。 | The doctor works in the hospital. |
| 工程师 (gōngchéngshī) | Engineer | 工程师设计桥梁。 | The engineer designs bridges. |
| 老师 (lǎoshī) | Teacher | 老师教数学。 | The teacher teaches math. |
| 律师 (lǜshī) | Lawyer | 律师为客户辩护。 | The lawyer defends their client. |
| 护士 (hùshì) | Nurse | 护士照顾病人。 | The nurse takes care of patients. |
| 会计师 (kuàijìshī) | Accountant | 会计师审核账目。 | The accountant checks the accounts. |
| 建筑师 (jiànzhùshī) | Architect | 建筑师绘制建筑图。 | The architect creates building plans. |
| 厨师 (chúshī) | Chef / Cook | 厨师准备晚饭。 | The chef prepares dinner. |
| 警察 (jǐngchá) | Police Officer | 警察巡逻城市。 | The police officer patrols the city. |
| 临时工 (línshígōng) | Temp / Day Laborer | 临时工在工地工作。 | The day laborer works on the construction site. |
Note on Usage
Mandarin job titles are typically followed by the word 人 (rén) for "person" when referring to the job role (e.g., 医生 vs. 医生 人), but this is often omitted in casual speech.
Summary
- Spanish and German job titles often change based on gender.
- Mandarin job titles are generally gender-neutral and more fixed.
- Knowing common job titles helps you talk about professions and ask about people’s work in different languages.
If you want to learn more about a specific language or see other job titles, let me know!
Which of these German job titles is usually only female?
Krankenschwester
«Krankenschwester» (nurse) is traditionally a female title; the male form is less common.
Fill in the blank: Die ___ arbeitet im Krankenhaus.
Ärztin
«Ärztin» (female doctor) is the correct job title for someone working in a hospital.
Flashcards (1 of 30)
- English Job Title: Doctor
- Example Sentence (English): The doctor works in the hospital.
Last updated: Wed Jun 18, 2025
