German · Arbeitsvertrag
You ask about the probation period in the contract: what to say in German
You ask about the trial period in your contract.
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How it's done. During the trial period (Probezeit, usually up to six months) the notice period is shorter: by law two weeks; read whatever was agreed in the contract.Prepared by the Movko team, November 2026. This is language help, not legal or medical advice: check the rules with the office itself.
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The first phrase is open: tap ▶ to listen, or “Show” to show it to the other person. The rest of the dialogue is in the course in the app.
1
YOU START
Entschuldigung, wie lange ist die Probezeit?
Aynt-SHOOL-dee-goong, vee LAHN-geh eest dee PROH-beh-tsight?
Excuse me, how long is the trial period?
Or say:Ich habe eine Frage zur Probezeit. Wie lange dauert sie?
Eekh KHAH-beh IGH-neh FRAH-geh tsoor PROH-beh-tsight. Vee LAHN-geh DOW-ehrt zee?
THEY SAY
Die Probezeit dauert sechs Monate.Dee PROH-beh-tsight DOW-ehrt zeks MOH-nuh-teh.
The trial period lasts six months.
They might also say:
Die ersten sechs Monate sind die Probezeit.
Dee EHRS-tayn zeks MOH-nuh-teh zeent dee PROH-beh-tsight.
The first six months are the trial period.
2
YOU REPLY
Und wie lange ist die Kündigungsfrist in der Probezeit?
Oont vee LAHN-geh eest dee kyoon-dee-goongs-FREEST een dehr PROH-beh-tsight?
And how long is the notice period during the trial period?
THEY SAY
In der Probezeit beträgt sie zwei Wochen. Danach gilt eine längere Frist.Een dehr PROH-beh-tsight beh-TREKT zee tsvigh VOH-khayn. Duh-NAHKH geelt IGH-neh LAYN-geh-reh freest.
During the trial period it is two weeks. After that a longer period applies.
3
YOU REPLY
Verstehe. Wo steht das im Vertrag?
Fehrsh-TEH-eh. Voh shtet dahs eem fehr-TRAHK?
I see. Where does it say that in the contract?
THEY SAY
Hier, im Paragraphen vier. Ich markiere es Ihnen.Kheer, eem puh-ruh-GRAH-fayn feer. Eekh muhr-KEE-reh es EE-nayn.
Here, in section four. I'll mark it for you.
4
YOU FINISH
Danke, das ist sehr hilfreich.
DAHN-keh, dahs eest zehr KHEEL-frighkh.
Thanks, that is very helpful.
The course is in the app
This dialogue is part of the course “German for life in Germany”: 416 situations with audio, a pronunciation guide and spaced review.
On the website the first dialogue, the 112 category, the rescue phrases and the “Basics” are fully open.
Words worth knowing
wie
vee
adverb
how
lange
LAHN-geh
adverb
for a long time
ist
eest
verb
is
Probezeit
PROH-beh-tsight
noun
probation period
dauert
DOW-ehrt
verb
lasts
Monate
MOH-nuh-teh
noun
months
32 more words, with explanations, base forms and tap-a-word help, are in the app.
If you did not understand
Können Sie das bitte wiederholen?
KYOH-nayn zee dahs BEE-teh vee-dehr-KHOH-layn?
Can you repeat that, please?
Können Sie bitte langsamer sprechen?
KYOH-nayn zee BEE-teh LAHNG-zuh-muh SHPREH-khayn?
Can you speak more slowly, please?
Was bedeutet das?
Vahs beh-DOY-tet dahs?
What does this mean?
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