Arbeitnehmer
employee
noun AR-bait-nay-mer Less Common
Origin: literally 'work-taker', from Arbeit + nehmer
Usage Note
Arbeitnehmer literally means 'work-taker' and pairs neatly with its opposite Arbeitgeber ('work-giver', employer). It is the standard legal and economic term for an employee; the female form is Arbeitnehmerin. Common in labour-law and union contexts.
Examples
"Jeder Arbeitnehmer hat Anspruch auf Urlaub."
Natural Translation
Every employee is entitled to holiday.
Literal Translation
Every employee has claim on holiday.

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