der
Freiberufler
🤔 What is a Freiberufler?
A Freiberufler is a person who is self-employed in one of the so-called liberal professions (*freie Berufe*). These professions are often of a scientific, artistic, literary, teaching, or educational nature. In German law (§ 18 EStG, § 1 PartGG), there are specific listed professions (*Katalogberufe*), such as doctors, lawyers, engineers, architects, journalists, interpreters, tax consultants, and similar professions that require special professional qualifications or creative talent.
The term is exclusively masculine (*maskulin*). The feminine form is *die Freiberuflerin*.
⚠️ *Important*: Not every self-employed person (*Selbstständiger*) is automatically a *Freiberufler* in the legal sense. Other self-employed individuals often run a commercial business (*Gewerbe*).
Article rules for der, die, and das
Male characters → always masculine.
Caution: Most professions also have their feminine forms (e.g. die Polizistin). Some words can also have two forms: der/die Deutsche, der/die Kranke.
-er → mostly masculine.
1. Caution: many exceptions. 2. almost all -euer nouns are neutral. 3. There are many -er words, we don't list them all.
📝 Grammar of Freiberufler
The word "Freiberufler" is a masculine noun. It typically follows the weak N-declension in the genitive, dative, and accusative singular cases, although strong declension (Genitive: des Freiberuflers) is also possible. The N-declension is more common when referring to the person.
Declension Masculine: der Freiberufler
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | der | Freiberufler |
| Genitive | des | Freiberuflers / Freiberuflers |
| Dative | dem | Freiberufler / Freiberufler |
| Accusative | den | Freiberufler / Freiberufler |
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die | Freiberufler |
| Genitive | der | Freiberufler |
| Dative | den | Freiberuflern |
| Accusative | die | Freiberufler |
Example Sentences
- Der Freiberufler reichte seine Steuererklärung pünktlich ein.
(The freelancer submitted his tax return on time.) - Die Expertise des Freiberuflers war sehr gefragt.
(The freelancer's expertise was in high demand.) - Wir arbeiteten eng mit dem Freiberufler zusammen.
(We worked closely with the freelancer.) - Viele Unternehmen beauftragen Freiberufler für spezielle Projekte.
(Many companies hire freelancers for special projects.) - Die Freiberufler trafen sich zum Netzwerken.
(The freelancers met for networking.)
💡 When to use Freiberufler?
The term Freiberufler is used specifically in the context of self-employment, particularly to distinguish these individuals from traders or commercial business owners (*Gewerbetreibende*). This distinction has significant tax and legal implications in Germany (e.g., *Freiberufler* are generally exempt from trade tax - *Gewerbesteuer*).
- Typical Contexts: *Law (Recht), taxes (Steuern), business (Wirtschaft), job descriptions (Berufsbeschreibungen), labor market (Arbeitsmarkt).*
- Distinction: *Selbstständiger* is the general term for a self-employed person. Every *Freiberufler* is *selbstständig*, but not every *Selbstständiger* is a *Freiberufler*. A self-employed person who is not a *Freiberufler* is usually a *Gewerbetreibender* (e.g., craftsperson, retailer).
- Colloquial Use: Sometimes "Freiberufler" or the English loanword "Freelancer" is used more broadly for any type of independent project work, even if the person might legally be considered a *Gewerbetreibender*.
🧠 Memory Aids for Freiberufler
Article Mnemonic: Think of *'der Mann'* (the man) who works *'frei'* (freely) – *der Freiberufler*.
Meaning Mnemonic: He is *'frei'* (free) in his *'Beruf'* (profession), a real do*er* – the Freiberufl*er*.
🔄 Similar and Opposite Terms
Synonyms (Similar Meaning):
- Selbstständiger / Selbständiger: *General term for self-employed, not always identical.*
- Freelancer: *English loanword, often used synonymously, sometimes broader.*
- freier Mitarbeiter: *Often refers to the contract type (freelance collaborator), can be a Freiberufler or Gewerbetreibender.*
Antonyms (Opposite Meaning):
- Angestellter: *Employee (in a dependent employment relationship).*
- Arbeitnehmer: *Legal term for employee (includes blue-collar and white-collar workers).*
- Beamter: *Civil servant (in a special public service relationship).*
Potential for Confusion:
🚨 Do not confuse with Gewerbetreibender (*tradesperson/commercial operator*). Although both are self-employed, they are subject to different legal and tax regulations in Germany.
😄 A Little Joke
Frage: Warum haben Freiberufler immer kalte Füße?
Antwort: Weil sie ständig auf eigenen Füßen stehen!
Translation:
Question: Why do freelancers always have cold feet?
Answer: Because they are constantly standing on their own two feet! (Pun: 'auf eigenen Füßen stehen' means both 'to stand on one's own feet' literally and 'to be independent/self-sufficient' figuratively).
📜 Poetic Words about the Freiberufler
Der Freiberufler, klug und frei,
Gestaltet seinen Tag neu.
Mit Laptop, Stift und Telefon,
Verdient er seinen Arbeitslohn.
Mal hier, mal dort, stets auf Achse,
So wächst die eigene Wissensachse.
Kein Chef, der sagt, was er soll tun,
Kann selbst entscheiden, niemals ruh'n?Doch Freiheit fordert Disziplin,
Sonst bleibt am Ende kein Gewinn.
Translation:
The freelancer, smart and free,
Shapes their own day anew.
With laptop, pen, and telephone,
They earn the wages they have sown.
Now here, now there, always on the move,
Their own axis of knowledge improve.
No boss to tell them what's the plan,
Can choose themselves, a restless man?
But freedom demands discipline,
Or else, in the end, there's no win.
🧩 A Little Riddle
Ich arbeite gern für mich allein,
zahl' keine Gewerbesteuer – das ist fein!
Bin Arzt, Anwalt, Künstler vielleicht,
mein eigener Herr, das ist mir leicht.
Wer bin ich?
... Der Freiberufler
Translation:
I like to work for myself alone,
pay no trade tax – that's nicely known!
I might be a doctor, lawyer, artist bright,
My own master, that feels just right.
Who am I?
... The Freiberufler (Freelancer/Liberal Professional)
🧐 More Info
Word Composition:
The word "Freiberufler" is composed of:
- frei: *Adjective meaning 'free', independent, unbound.*
- Beruf: *Noun meaning 'profession', 'occupation'.*
- -ler: *Suffix indicating a person who does something or belongs to a group (similar to -er in English).*
Feminine Form:
The feminine form is die Freiberuflerin (Plural: *die Freiberuflerinnen*).
Legal Aspects:
The precise definition and differentiation of the *freie Berufe* (liberal professions) in Germany are regulated in the Income Tax Act (*Einkommensteuergesetz* - EStG) and the Partnership Company Act (*Partnerschaftsgesellschaftsgesetz* - PartGG) and are often the subject of financial court decisions.
Summary: is it der, die or das Freiberufler?
The word "Freiberufler" is masculine. The correct article is der Freiberufler.