How to Say “Business” in German: Learn Synonyms and Examples

Looking for the best way to say “Business” in German? The German language offers multiple synonyms, each with subtle differences in meaning and usage. From ‘das Geschäft‘ and ‘die Firma’ to ‘das Unternehmen’ and ‘der Betrieb’, choosing the right word depends on the context—whether you’re talking about a company, industry, trade, or even personal affairs.

In this guide, we’ll explore 10 common German synonyms for “Business,” break down their differences, and show you how to use them naturally in conversations and writing. You’ll also learn translations for popular business-related phrases, compare commonly confused terms, and test your knowledge with an interactive quiz.

Let’s dive in!

1. 10 Ways to Say “Business” in German: A Comprehensive Overview
   1. das Geschäft (business, store, deal)
   2. die Firma (company, firm)
   3. das Unternehmen (enterprise, company)
   4. der Betrieb (business, operation)
   5. die Wirtschaft (economy, business sector)
   6. die Branche (industry, sector)
   7. der Handel (trade, commerce)
   8. die Selbstständigkeit (self-employment)
   9. das Business (business)
   10. die Angelegenheit(matter, affair, business)
2. How to Say “…” in German: Best Synonyms and Examples
   1. “None of your business.”
   2. “Mind your own business.”
   3. “Business is business.”
   4. “Let’s get down to business.”
   5. “Business as usual.”
   6. “I mean business.”
   7. “It’s just business, nothing personal.”
   8. “That’s good for business.”
   9. “He’s in the (fashion) business.”
   10. “It’s a risky business.”
   11. “We’re open for business.”
   12. “He’s got no business being here.”
   13. “Stay out of my business!”
   14. “It’s a family business.”
   15. “We mean serious business.”
3. What is the difference between…
   1. Geschäft vs. Firma vs. Unternehmen
   2. Unternehmen vs. Betrieb
   3. Branche vs. Wirtschaft
   4. Handel vs. Geschäft
   5. Selbstständigkeit vs. Business
   6. Angelegenheit vs. Geschäft
4. German Synonym Quiz for “Business”

I. 10 Ways to Say “Business“ in German: A Comprehensive Overview

1. das Geschäft, -e: business, store, deal

most general term, also means “store” or “deal”

Usage:
– Most common and general word for “business.”
– Can mean a company, a physical store, or a deal/transaction.
– Used both formally and informally.

2. die Firma, Firmen: company, firm

used for registered businesses and companies with employees

Usage:
– Used specifically for registered companies with employees.
– Typically refers to private sector businesses.

3. das Unternehmen, –: enterprise, company

typically larger businesses or corporations; same form in plural

Usage:
– More formal than “Firma” and often refers to larger companies or corporations.
– Used in business and economic contexts.

4. Betrieb, -e: business, operation

often refers to a workplace, factory, or production facility

Usage:
– Refers to a business as a physical workplace (e.g., factory, workshop).
– Used often in industrial and manufacturing settings.

5. Wirtschaft, -en: economy, business sector

macro-level, referring to the overall business environment

Usage:
– Refers to the overall economy or business sector.
– Used in macro-economic contexts.

6. die Branche, -n: industry, sector

industry, sector: used for business fields, e.g., automotive, tech, finance, etc.

Usage:
– Used to describe a specific business field or industry.
– Common in economic and job-related discussions.

7. der Handel, –: trade, commerce

related to buying, selling, and international business; usually uncountable, no plural in common usage

Usage:
– Refers to buying and selling goods, trade (domestic or international).
– No plural form in common usage.

8. die Selbstständigkeit, -en: self-employment

used when talking about being a freelancer or running your own business

Usage:
– Refers to running your own business or freelancing.
– Used in employment and career contexts.

9. das Business, –: business

Usage:
– borrowed from English, informal, mainly used in modern speech or marketing; usually uncountable, no plural in common usage

10. die Angelegenheit, -en: matter, affair, business

refers to a concern, issue, or case rather than a commercial business

Usage:
– Refers to a personal or legal matter rather than a commercial business.

II. How to Say “…” in German: Best Synonyms and Examples

Here’s a list of common idiomatic expressions with “business” in English along with their most natural German translations.

How do you say “None of your business.” in German?

– Das geht dich nichts an. (Most common and direct)
– Kümmere dich um deine eigenen Angelegenheiten. (More formal or polite)

How do you say “Mind your own business.” in German?

– Kümmere dich um deine eigenen Angelegenheiten. (Most natural)
– Misch dich nicht ein. (More direct, means “Don’t interfere.”)
– Das ist nicht dein Bier. (Colloquial and informal, literally “That’s not your beer.”)

How do you say “Business is business.” in German?

– Geschäft ist Geschäft. (Direct and commonly used)
– So ist das Geschäft. (More like “That’s how business is.”)

How do you say “Let’s get down to business.” in German?

– Lass uns zur Sache kommen. (Most natural, literally “Let’s get to the matter.”)
– Kommen wir zur Sache. (Alternative, more formal sounding.)
– Lass uns anfangen. (Simpler version, meaning “Let’s get started.”)

How do you say “Business as usual.” in German?

– Alles beim Alten. (Most natural, means “Everything is as usual.”)
– Der normale Betrieb läuft weiter. (More technical, used for companies.)

How do you say “I mean business.” in German?

– Ich meine es ernst. (Best equivalent, means “I’m serious.”)
– Ich mache keine halben Sachen. (More idiomatic, means “I don’t do things halfway.”)

How do you say “It’s just business, nothing personal.” in German?

– Es ist nur Geschäft, nichts Persönliches. (Most direct and common.)
– Nimm es nicht persönlich, es ist nur Geschäft. (A softer way of saying it.)

How do you say “That’s good for business.” in German?

– Das ist gut fürs Geschäft. (Most common and direct.)
– Das hilft dem Unternehmen. (More specific for companies.)

How do you say “He’s in the (fashion) business.” in German?

– Er ist in der (Mode-)Branche tätig. (Most common in professional context.)
– Er arbeitet im (Mode-)Geschäft. (More casual.)

How do you say “It’s a risky business.” in German?

– Es ist ein riskantes Geschäft. (Most direct.)
– Das ist eine riskante Angelegenheit. (If referring to a situation, not a company.)

How do you say “We’re open for business.” in German?

– Wir haben geöffnet. (For a shop or restaurant.)
– Wir sind bereit für Geschäfte. (For a company opening or restarting business.)

How do you say “He’s got no business being here.” in German?

– Er hat hier nichts zu suchen. (Most natural, means “He shouldn’t be here.”)
– Er hat hier nichts verloren. (Alternative, similar meaning.)

How do you say “Stay out of my business!” in German?

– Halt dich aus meinen Angelegenheiten raus! (Most natural.)
– Misch dich nicht ein! (Shorter and stronger.)

How do you say “It’s a family business.” in German?

– Es ist ein Familienunternehmen. (For a formal/business context.)
– Es ist ein Familienbetrieb. (More casual, common for small businesses.)

How do you say “We mean serious business.” in German?

– Wir machen keine halben Sachen. (Most natural, means “We don’t do things halfway.”)
– Wir meinen es ernst. (More general.)

III. What is the Difference Between Different “Business” ?

1. Geschäft vs. Firma vs. Unternehmen: Key Differences

“Firma” and “Unternehmen” are often interchangeable, especially when referring to a business as a legal entity. “Geschäft” can also be used for a company but is more general and also means “store.”

Geschäft → A general term for business, also means store or deal.
Firma → A registered company, often smaller, with employees.
Unternehmen → A larger company or enterprise, used in corporate contexts.

• Interchangeable example:
  
  • Er arbeitet in einem großen Geschäft. (He works in a big business.)
  • Er arbeitet in einer großen Firma. (He works in a big company.)
    
  • Mein Unternehmen wächst schnell. (My company is growing fast.)
  • Meine Firma wächst schnell. (My company is growing fast.)

2. Unternehmen vs. Betrieb: Key Differences

“Betrieb” is often used when referring to a factory or production site. However, in casual speech, “Betrieb” and “Unternehmen” can be interchangeable.

Unternehmen → A broad term for a company (corporation, startup, small business).
Betrieb → A business as a physical workplace (factory, production site, workshop).

• Interchangeable example:
  
  • Das Unternehmen stellt Autoteile her. (The company manufactures car parts.)
  • Der Betrieb stellt Autoteile her. (The business manufactures car parts.)
    
  • Ich arbeite in einem kleinen Betrieb. (I work in a small business.)
  • Ich arbeite in einem kleinen Unternehmen. (I work in a small company.)

3. Branche vs. Wirtschaft: Key Differences

In most cases, “Branche” is used for specific fields, while “Wirtschaft” is broader. However, for industry-wide discussions, they can sometimes overlap.

Branche → A specific industry or sector (e.g., IT, healthcare, finance).
Wirtschaft → The general economy or business world.

• Interchangeable example:
  
  • Die IT-Branche wächst schnell. (The IT industry is growing fast.)
  • Die IT-Wirtschaft wächst schnell. (The IT economy is growing fast.)

4. Handel vs. Geschäft: Key Differences

If you’re talking about buying and selling in general, both words can work. However, Handel is more common when referring to trade as an industry.

Handel → Trade/commerce, especially on a national or international scale.
Geschäft → A business or store, also means “deal.”

• Interchangeable example:
  
  • Der Handel mit Luxusgütern boomt. (The trade in luxury goods is booming.)
  • Das Geschäft mit Luxusgütern boomt. (The business with luxury goods is booming.)

5. Selbstständigkeit vs. Business: Key Differences

“Selbstständigkeit” is the official term, while “Business” is modern and informal. You’ll hear “Business” in marketing and startup contexts, but in formal writing, use “Selbstständigkeit.”

Selbstständigkeit → Self-employment (the legal/formal status of working for yourself).
Business → A modern, borrowed word, used in casual speech or marketing.

• Interchangeable example:
  
  • Ich habe mich für die Selbstständigkeit entschieden. (I decided to become self-employed.)
  • Ich habe mich entschieden, ein eigenes Business zu starten. (I decided to start my own business.)

6. Angelegenheit vs. Geschäft: Key Differences

In personal conversations, both can sometimes mean the same thing. However, Angelegenheit is used for formal/legal matters, while Geschäft can sound more like financial/business dealings.

Angelegenheit → A matter, issue, or concern (personal or legal).
Geschäft → A business, deal, or transaction.

• Interchangeable example:
  
  • Das ist meine private Angelegenheit. (That is my private matter.)
  • Das ist mein privates Geschäft. (That is my private business.)

IV. German Synonym Quiz for “Business“

Test Your Knowledge: Which German Word for “Business” Fits Best?

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1. Mein Vater hat ein kleines _____ für handgefertigte Möbel eröffnet.
   
   a) der Betrieb
   b) das Geschäft
   c) die Wirtschaft
   d) der Handel
   
   Answer: b) das Geschäft

2. _____ in Deutschland ist stark von Exporten abhängig.
   
   a) der Handel
   b) die Branche
   c) die Wirtschaft
   d) das Business
   
   Answer: c) die Wirtschaft

3. Unser _____ expandiert nach China, weil wir neue Märkte erschließen wollen.
   
   a) die Firma
   b) die Selbstständigkeit
   c) die Angelegenheit
   d) die Branche
   
   Answer: a) die Firma

4. Er ist müde vom Angestelltenleben und hat sich für _____ entschieden.
   
   a) den Handel
   b) die Selbstständigkeit
   c) das Unternehmen
   d) den Betrieb
   
   Answer: b) die Selbstständigkeit

5. Die Tourismus _____ hat in den letzten Jahren große Verluste erlitten.
   
   a) die Wirtschaft
   b) der Handel
   c) die Branche
   d) das Business
   
   Answer: c) die Branche

6. Mein Bruder arbeitet in einem großen _____, das Autos produziert.
   
   a) das Geschäft
   b) der Betrieb
   c) die Angelegenheit
   d) die Wirtschaft
   
   Answer: b) der Betrieb

7. Der _____ mit China ist in den letzten Jahren gewachsen.
   
   a) das Business
   b) die Branche
   c) der Handel
   d) die Selbstständigkeit
   
   Answer: c) der Handel

8. Das ist eine private _____. Ich möchte nicht darüber sprechen.
   
   a) die Wirtschaft
   b) das Geschäft
   c) die Angelegenheit
   d) der Handel
   
   Answer: c) die Angelegenheit

9. Sein _____ läuft sehr erfolgreich, er hat viele Kunden gewonnen.
   
   a) die Branche
   b) das Business
   c) die Wirtschaft
   d) die Angelegenheit
   
   Answer: b) das Business

10. Unsere _____ hat über 5.000 Mitarbeiter weltweit.
    
    a) die Firma
    b) die Selbstständigkeit
    c) die Angelegenheit
    d) die Branche
    
    Answer: a) die Firma