arbeitslos

German

Etymology

From Arbeit +‎ -s- +‎ -los.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈaʁbaɪ̯tsloːs/

• Audio:

  (file)

• Hyphenation: ar‧beits‧los

Adjective

arbeitslos (not comparable)

1. (general) unemployed (having no work despite being willing to work)
2. (colloquial) on welfare; unemployed; idle (having no work and being supported by social benefits despite being able to work)
3. (law, Germany) working less than 15 hours a week, actively looking for a job that is subject to obligatory social-security payments, registered at the national employment agency, and responding to the latter’s placement services

Synonyms

• beschäftigungslos
• brotlos
• erwerbslos
• stellenlos
• stellungslos
• unbeschäftigt

Related terms

• Arbeitslose
• Arbeitsloser
• Arbeitslosigkeit

 

Further reading

• “arbeitslos” in Duden online