das  Büro

A2

Estimated CEFR level.

/byˈʁoː/

🏢 What does "das Büro" mean?

Das Büro (noun, neuter) primarily refers to a room or a set of rooms where administrative, managerial, or intellectual work is carried out. It can refer to a workplace in a company as well as a study or home office in a private residence.

• Main meaning: A room or area for desk work, administration, management, or similar professional activities. Example: "Ich arbeite in einem Großraumbüro." (I work in an open-plan office.)
• Further meaning: An organizational unit or agency. Example: "Das Büro des Bürgermeisters ist im Rathaus." (The mayor's office is in the town hall.)
• Private use: A home office or study. Example: "Er hat sich ein kleines Büro im Dachgeschoss eingerichtet." (He has set up a small office in the attic.)

⚠️ There are no article variations with different meanings for "Büro"; it is always das Büro.

Article rules for der, die, and das

📊 Grammar Details: Das Büro

"Büro" is a noun of neuter gender (Neutrum). The article is always "das".

Declension Singular

Declension Plural

📝 Example Sentences

1. Nominative: Das Büro ist heute geschlossen. (The office is closed today.)
2. Genitive: Die Adresse des Büros finden Sie online. (You can find the office's address online.)
3. Dative: Ich arbeite in einem modernen Büro. (I work in a modern office.)
4. Accusative: Wir suchen ein neues Büro. (We are looking for a new office.)
5. Plural: Die Firma hat mehrere Büros in der Stadt. (The company has several offices in the city.)

💡 How to Use "das Büro" Correctly

"Das Büro" is a very common word in everyday life and the professional world.

• Professional Context: Refers to the place of work for many employees, civil servants, etc. ("Ich fahre ins Büro." - I'm going to the office., "Unsere Büros sind im dritten Stock." - Our offices are on the third floor.).
• Private Context: Can also mean the home office ("Ich muss noch etwas im Büro erledigen." - I still have to do something in the office/study.). Here, "Arbeitszimmer" (study) is often more specific, but "Büro" is frequently used synonymously.
• Institutional Context: Often refers to an agency or department ("das Finanzamt-Büro" - the tax office branch, "das Touristenbüro" - the tourist office).

Distinctions:

• Arbeitszimmer: More commonly used for the private workspace at home, emphasizes its function as a room.
• Kanzlei: Specifically for lawyers or notaries.
• Praxis: Specifically for doctors or therapists.
• Amtsstube: Rather dated term for an office in a public authority.

The word is often used in compound nouns, e.g., Büroarbeit (office work), Bürostuhl (office chair), Büroklammer (paper clip), Bürogebäude (office building), Bürokratie (bureaucracy).

🧠 Memory Aids for "das Büro"

Remembering the Article "das":

Imagine a very neutral, generic office building. Things that are general or neutral concepts in German sometimes take das. Also, many borrowed words ending in 'o' are neuter (das Auto, das Foto, das Kino, das Büro). So, think: Borrowed 'O' word = probably das Büro.

Remembering the Meaning "Office/Study":

"Büro" sounds very similar to the English word "bureau", which can mean a desk or an office/agency. Think of working at your bureau in your Büro.

🔄 Similar and Opposite Terms

🚨 Risk of Confusion:

Although the meaning is usually clear, context is crucial to determine whether the company office or the home office is meant. When in doubt, ask!

😂 A Little Laugh

Chef fragt den neuen Mitarbeiter: "Na, wie gefällt Ihnen die Arbeit im Büro?"
Antwortet der Neue: "Ach, ganz gut. Aber am besten gefällt mir das Fenster!"

Translation:
The boss asks the new employee: "So, how do you like working in the office?"
The newbie replies: "Oh, it's quite alright. But I like the window best!"

✍️ Poetically about the Büro

Das Büro, ein Raum, oft karg und schlicht,
Mit Schreibtisch, Stuhl und Neonlicht.
Der Bildschirm flimmert, Tasten klingen,
Wo Zahlen tanzen, Mails entspringen.

Von neun bis fünf, so will's der Brauch,
Verbringt man hier die Stunden auch.
Mal stressig laut, mal leise sehr,
Das Büroleben – bitte sehr!

Translation:
The office, a room, often bare and plain,
With desk, chair, and neon's stain.
The screen flickers, keys softly chime,
Where numbers dance and emails climb.

From nine to five, as custom holds,
One spends the hours, as life unfolds.
Sometimes loud with stress, sometimes hushed and low,
That's office life – here you go!

❓ Riddle Time

Ich habe einen Schreibtisch, aber keine Schubladen zum Aufziehen.
Ich habe einen Stuhl, aber sitze nie selbst.
Ich habe oft einen Computer, aber kein eigenes Gehirn.
Man arbeitet in mir, doch ich selbst arbeite nie.

Was bin ich?

Translation:
I have a desk, but no drawers to pull.
I have a chair, but never sit myself.
I often have a computer, but no brain of my own.
People work inside me, yet I never work myself.

What am I?

Solution: Das Büro (The office)

🤓 Interesting Facts

• Origin: The word "Büro" comes from the French word "bureau", which originally meant a writing desk with drawers, often covered with a special cloth (bure). Later, the meaning transferred to the room containing such a desk.
• Compounds: "Büro" is a very productive base word for compound nouns in German: Büroangestellte(r) (office employee), Bürobedarf (office supplies), Bürokratie (bureaucracy), Bürohengst (umgs. abwertend - office stud, desk jockey), Bürokauffrau/-mann (office clerk/administrator), Bürostuhl (office chair), Bürozeit (office hours), Großraumbüro (open-plan office)...
• Cultural Differences: The concept and design of offices can vary greatly across cultures (e.g., open-plan offices vs. individual offices, open vs. closed work cultures).