zur Arbeit gehen

You will mostly use this in the present tense. The most common form is Ich gehe zur Arbeit. Notice the word zur. This is a contraction of zu (to) and der (the). German loves to squish these words together. If you are currently in the process of leaving, you say Ich gehe jetzt zur Arbeit. If you want to talk about your routine, you might say Ich gehe jeden Tag um acht Uhr zur Arbeit. It is very straightforward. You don't need fancy grammar to sound like a pro here.

Use this when you are leaving the house. It is great for telling your partner why you can't take out the trash right now. You can also use it when texting a friend to explain why you are busy. It works perfectly in a professional setting too. If you are at a doctor's appointment and need to leave, this is the phrase. It is also the standard answer when someone asks what you are doing today. It is a universal 'busy' signal that everyone respects.

Don't use this for chores around the house. If you are vacuuming, you are not 'going to work.' Also, avoid using it if you are already at your desk. Once you are there, you use Ich bin bei der Arbeit (I am at work). If you are 'working' on a hobby, like painting, use the verb arbeiten instead. This specific phrase implies your actual job. Finally, if you work from home, it might feel a bit weird to say gehen (go). However, many Germans still use it metaphorically to mean 'starting the workday.'

Germans are famous for their work ethic and punctuality. When you say you are 'going to work,' it implies you will be there on time. There is a strong line between 'Arbeitszeit' (work time) and 'Freizeit' (free time). This phrase marks the beginning of that serious 'Arbeitszeit.' Interestingly, the opposite of this phrase is Feierabend machen. That literally means 'making a party evening,' but it just means finishing work. The German culture values the transition between these two states. Going to work is the serious start; Feierabend is the hard-earned reward.

In Southern Germany or Austria, you might hear in die Arbeit gehen. It means the exact same thing. Some people also say auf die Arbeit gehen, which is a bit more colloquial. If you are commuting by car or train, you might say zur Arbeit fahren. Fahren specifically means going by vehicle. However, gehen is often used as a general term for the whole trip. If you want to sound very casual with friends, you can just say Ich muss los, arbeiten (I have to go, working).