Mahlzeit! – Here's What the German Language Can Reveal about Attitudes to Work

Germans: rigid, humourless worker bees working their fingers to the bone to produce the finest quality precision engineering in the world, right? Sort of. Since language both creates culture and reflects it, let’s have a look at six common phrases you’d hear in a German workplace and see what we learn.
Brückentage
Literally, bridge days. The average German worker has 30 days of holiday plus 10 public holidays – more if they live in the Catholic states of North-Rhine Westphalia or Bavaria. Many of the public holidays fall on Tuesday or Thursday, in which case it is common to use a vacation day as a bridge to a bank holiday.

Destinations Unlocked:
Let our travel expert Stefano help you find your perfect Culture tripCentralAmerica
1. Guatemala
An express adventure for those with limited time off. Prepare yourself incredible experiences. You will hike a volcano, visit mayan temples and witness a ceremony and take in beautiful colonial Antigua.CentralAmerica
2. Belize
A quick trip not too far away for those seeking a relaxing mini break. You will have plenty of free time to relax but also some awesome activities to experience the rainforest and the caribbean sea.CentralAmerica
3. Mexico
An exciting mini trip exploring the lesser known colonial towns of central Mexico. This is hte perfect trip for someone with limited time off and still wants to turn on explorer mode and do something different.SouthAmerica
1. Ecuador
A remarkable 8 days adventure through the Andes and the Amazon rainforest. The best choice for adventure seekers wishing to visit the 2 most iconic areas of South America, in only 1 week and no flights.SouthAmerica
2. Peru
An alternative itinerary to classic Peru, from Cusco to Arequipa. This itinerary is great combination of highlights Cusco and Machu Picchu with the lesser known Arequipa and Colca Canyon.Europe
1. Italy
The ultimate Italian experience from the vibrant streets of Naples to the breathtaking sceneries of the Amalfi Coast followed by Matera and down to Puglia with its golden beaches, intense flavours and fascinating destinations.Europe
2. Scotland
Embark on this great adventure starting from London all the way to Scotland with a true Scottish experience made of breathtaking sceneries, whisky tasting and ..lots of fun! Ideal for train lovers and explorers.Europe
3. Portugal
A wonderful train journey around Portugal, from the romantic city of Porto to the Douro Valley, to the beautiful Aveiro all the way to Lisbon and Sintra. The perfect trip to train, culinary and culture lovers.Asia
1. South Korea
Discover incredible temples, mountains and modern cities on this 10 day adventure. This trip is perfect for those seeking immersion in the cuisine, culture and natural wonders of South Korea.Asia
2. Thailand
From Bankgok to Angkor Wat to Ho Chi Minh City and everything in between - adventure through the heart of South-East Asia. Taste the delights, see history brought to life and unwind on a Mekong River cruise.Asia
3. Sri Lanka
A fantastic adventure that showcases Sri Lanka's fantastic landscapes, wildlife and flavours. With 3 epic rail journeys, 3 UNESCO heritage sites and time to relax, this trip has loads to offer at a great priceAfrica
1. Morocco
An epic journey across Morocco: from Casablanca to Marrakech, through the blue city of Chefchaouen to the wonders of the desert and deep to the High Atlas Mountains - this trip has it all! Ideal for true explorers!Africa
2. Egypt
From Cairo to Aswan, this trip brings the land of the pharaohs to life. You'll visit the Pyramids, Valley of the Kings and Luxor Temple and cruise down the Nile in style. This is the perfect way to explore Egypt.
‘Erst die Arbeit, dann das Vergnügen!’
‘First work, then pleasure’ – less a dour rejection of all the delights life has to offer and more the idea of getting what must be done over with as soon as possible, so the good part can start.
Arbeitsunfähigkeitsbescheinigung
One of those gloriously long German compound nouns that, in this case consists of Arbeit (work), Unfähigkeit (impossibility) and Bescheinigung (certificate). All together, it’s the German equivalent of a sick note, which are given out freely and never questioned by your employer. German workers take twice as many sick days as their British counterparts but are significantly more productive.

Der Mittelstand
Business and manufacturing in Germany is dominated by middle-sized, family-owned companies that provide enormous stability to the economy. Nearly 80% of all businesses here qualify as Mittelstand, that is less than 500 employees or €50 million a year in revenue. For employees, it means they retain a lot of power and have a chance negotiate satisfactory conditions for themselves.
Mahlzeit
Literally ‘meal time’, the phrase Mahlzeit is only ever used at work. Strange looks would abound if you began a Sunday dinner this way. It has a definite working-class solidarity connotation and while not actively thought of in this way, is really about the strict division between company time and personal time. In practice, Mahlzeit can be used to express disgust, or annoyance, as a substitute for ‘Excuse you’ after someone burps or any number of other situations.

Schönen Feierabend
Following on from Mahlzeit is Schönen Feierabend, or have a lovely free evening. Feier literally means ‘party’, and it is common to wish your colleagues a Schönen Feierabend on your way out of the office. It is also normal to wish the same to the cashier at the grocery store or post office if it is near the end of the working day. This reinforcing of company and personal time is often even more strongly demarcated with the help of a Feierabendbier. Men drinking a beer on the train on the way home is by no means common, but it is also not at all unusual.

A full 25% of Germans report being unhappy with their job, but it is also true that Germans enjoy some of the highest levels of life satisfaction worldwide. A conundrum it seems, that could best be solved with a Feierabendbier or two.
Volcanic Iceland Epic Trip
meet our Local Insider
Hanna

HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN A GUIDE?
2 years.
WHAT DO YOU LOVE ABOUT YOUR JOB?
It's the personal contact, the personal experiences. I love meeting people from all over the world... I really like getting to know everyone and feeling like I'm traveling with a group of friends.
WHAT DESTINATION IS ON YOUR TRAVEL BUCKET-LIST?
I have so many places on my list, but I would really lobe to go to Africa. I consider myself an “adventure girl” and Africa feels like the ULTIMATE adventure!


Every CULTURE TRIP Small-group adventure is led by a Local Insider just like Hanna.


KEEN TO EXPLORE THE WORLD?
Connect with like-minded people on our premium trips curated by local insiders and with care for the world
Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.
Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.
Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.
Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.
We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.