der  Stundenlohn

B2

Estimated CEFR level.

/ˈʃtʊndn̩ˌloːn/

💰 What does 'der Stundenlohn' mean?

Der Stundenlohn refers to the payment an employee receives per hour of work performed (hourly wage). It's a common form of remuneration for many jobs, especially for part-time workers, temporary staff, or in specific sectors like skilled trades (Handwerk) or hospitality (Gastronomie).

Der Stundenlohn is typically specified in the employment contract (Arbeitsvertrag) and serves as the basis for calculating the monthly gross salary (Stundenlohn × hours worked = Bruttogehalt).

📊 Grammar in Detail: Der Stundenlohn

The word "Stundenlohn" is a masculine noun. Its article is der.

It's a compound word formed from "die Stunde" (hour) and "der Lohn" (wage). The gender is determined by the base word "Lohn", which is masculine.

Declension

Example Sentences

1. Der gesetzliche Mindestlohn legt einen unteren Stundenlohn fest.
   The legal minimum wage sets a lower hourly wage.
2. Mein Stundenlohn wurde kürzlich erhöht.
   My hourly wage was recently increased.
3. Wie hoch ist der durchschnittliche Stundenlohn in dieser Branche?
   What is the average hourly wage in this industry?
4. Er rechnete seine Arbeitszeit mit dem vereinbarten Stundenlohn ab.
   He billed his working hours at the agreed hourly wage.
5. Die Stundenlöhne variieren je nach Qualifikation und Erfahrung stark.
   The hourly wages vary greatly depending on qualifications and experience.

💡 How to use 'Stundenlohn'?

The term "Stundenlohn" is mainly used in the context of work and payment.

• Employment contracts (Arbeitsverträge): To define the compensation per hour.
• Salary negotiations (Gehaltsverhandlungen): As a basis for negotiating payment.
• Economic discussions: In relation to minimum wage (Mindestlohn), collective agreements (Tarifverträge), and wage gaps.
• Everyday language: When talking about payment for temp jobs, side jobs, or certain services.

Der Stundenlohn should be distinguished from das Monatsgehalt (fixed monthly salary, regardless of exact hours) or der Akkordlohn (piece-rate pay, payment based on output/number of pieces).

🧠 Memory Aids for 'Stundenlohn'

Article Mnemonic: Think of DER Lohn (the wage) you get per Stunde (hour). The base word "Lohn" is masculine, so der Stundenlohn is also masculine.

Meaning Mnemonic: Imagine a stopwatch ⏱️ (Stunde) and a money bag 💰 (Lohn). Der Stundenlohn is the money you get for each hour timed.

↔️ Synonyms & Antonyms for 'Stundenlohn'

⚠️ Caution: Der Stundensatz (hourly rate) is often used synonymously, but it more frequently refers to the calculation for services or the payment of freelancers, whereas der Stundenlohn is more common in employment relationships with hourly billing.

😂 A Little Joke

Fragt der Chef den neuen Mitarbeiter: "Was erwarten Sie denn für einen Stundenlohn?"
Antwortet der Mitarbeiter: "Ach, so um sechs Uhr abends wäre schön!"

(Translation: The boss asks the new employee: "What kind of hourly wage (Stundenlohn) are you expecting?"
The employee replies: "Oh, around six o'clock in the evening would be nice!")

(Note: This plays on the word "Stundenlohn" potentially being misinterpreted as "Lohn zur Stunde X" - pay at hour X - instead of pay per hour.)

📜 Poem about 'Stundenlohn'

Die Uhr, sie tickt, die Arbeit ruft,
man schwitzt und schuftet in der Luft.
Am Ende zählt, was übrig blieb,
der Stundenlohn, der mir verlieb.
Mal hoch, mal niedrig, je nachdem,
fürs Leben reicht er, meist bequem.

(Translation: The clock ticks, work calls, / one sweats and toils within the walls. / In the end, what counts is what's received, / the hourly wage, I have believed. / Sometimes high, sometimes low, as it may seem, / for life it's enough, mostly a pleasant dream.)

🧩 Riddle Time

Ich messe deinen Wert pro Zeit,
bin oft im Arbeitsvertrag nicht weit.
Mal mehr, mal minder, bar auf die Hand,
oder aufs Konto, wohlbekannt.

Was bin ich? (Lösung: der Stundenlohn)

(Translation: I measure your worth per time, / Often in the employment contract, not far behind. / Sometimes more, sometimes less, cash in hand, / Or to the account, known throughout the land.

What am I?
Answer: der Stundenlohn / the hourly wage)

➕ Additional Information

Word Formation

The term "Stundenlohn" is a Kompositum, a compound word:

• die Stunde: unit of time measurement (60 minutes).
• der Lohn: payment for work performed, wage.

This type of compound (determinative compound: specifying word + base word) clarifies that it's a wage (Lohn) calculated on an hourly basis (Stunden-).

Cultural Context

In Germany, der Stundenlohn is a widespread form of payment calculation, especially since the introduction of the national minimum wage (gesetzlicher Mindestlohn), which serves as a legal floor for hourly wages.