In 15 Seconds
- Used to describe a permanent increase in your professional salary.
- Combines 'Gehalt' (salary) and 'Erhöhung' (increase) with the verb 'bekommen'.
- Standard term for both office talk and private celebrations.
Meaning
It's that happy moment when your boss agrees to pay you more money for your work. It is the standard way to say you have secured a pay rise in a professional setting.
Key Examples
3 of 6Sharing good news with a partner
Schatz, ich habe heute endlich eine Gehaltserhöhung bekommen!
Honey, I finally got a raise today!
In a formal performance review
Unter welchen Bedingungen könnte ich eine Gehaltserhöhung bekommen?
Under what conditions could I get a raise?
Texting a friend about work
Gehaltserhöhung ist durch! Wir gehen heute feiern! 🍻
The raise went through! We're celebrating today!
Cultural Background
Germans rarely talk about their exact salary with colleagues. Getting a raise is a private success. However, in the public sector, salaries are transparent and based on fixed tables (TVöD). In Austria, 'Kollektivverträge' (collective agreements) are very strong. Almost every year, workers 'eine Gehaltserhöhung bekommen' automatically because of union negotiations, often called the 'Herbstlohnrunde'. Salaries in Switzerland are much higher, but so is the cost of living. A 'Gehaltserhöhung' is often negotiated very pragmatically based on individual performance and company success. In contrast to Germany, Americans are often more open about their raises as a sign of success. In Germany, modesty is preferred to avoid 'Neid' (envy).
The 'Um' Rule
When mentioning the amount, always use 'um'. Example: 'Ich habe eine Gehaltserhöhung um 200 Euro bekommen.'
Avoid 'Machen'
Never say 'Ich mache eine Gehaltserhöhung'. It sounds like you are printing the money yourself!
In 15 Seconds
- Used to describe a permanent increase in your professional salary.
- Combines 'Gehalt' (salary) and 'Erhöhung' (increase) with the verb 'bekommen'.
- Standard term for both office talk and private celebrations.
What It Means
This phrase is your ticket to a better lifestyle. Gehalt means salary, and Erhöhung means an increase or raising. When you put them together with bekommen (to get), you are talking about a permanent bump in your pay. It is not just a one-time bonus. It is a structural change to your contract. In Germany, this is a major milestone in your career path.
How To Use It
You use this phrase just like you would in English. You can say you 'got' one (bekommen) or 'requested' one (nach einer Gehaltserhöhung fragen). If you want to sound more formal, you can use erhalten instead of bekommen. Remember to conjugate the verb based on who is getting the money. For example, ich bekomme or er hat bekommen. It is a very flexible and straightforward collocation.
When To Use It
Use this when sharing good news with your family. It is perfect for professional discussions with your manager. You can also use it when complaining to friends about your low pay. It fits well in any conversation about career progress. Use it during tax season or when planning a big purchase. It is the most common way to describe this event.
When NOT To Use It
Do not use this for a one-time Christmas bonus. That is called a Weihnachtsgeld or a Bonus. Avoid using it if you are a freelancer raising your rates. In that case, you would say die Preise erhöhen. Also, do not use it for pocket money from your parents. That would just be mehr Taschengeld. It is strictly for formal employment situations.
Cultural Background
Germans have a famous saying: Über Geld spricht man nicht (One does not talk about money). Because of this, people rarely share the exact amount of their raise. However, the phrase eine Gehaltserhöhung bekommen is perfectly fine to use. It signals success and reliability without breaking the 'no-numbers' taboo. In many German companies, raises are tied to yearly 'Mitarbeitergespräche' (performance reviews).
Common Variations
If you are a blue-collar worker paid by the hour, use Lohnerhöhung. For a more casual vibe, you might say mehr Kohle kriegen (to get more coal/cash). In very formal HR documents, you might see Bezügeanpassung. However, for 90% of situations, Gehaltserhöhung is your best friend. It strikes the perfect balance between professional and relatable.
Usage Notes
The phrase is neutral and safe for all professional environments. Just ensure you use 'Gehalt' for salaried positions and 'Lohn' for hourly ones to sound most natural.
The 'Um' Rule
When mentioning the amount, always use 'um'. Example: 'Ich habe eine Gehaltserhöhung um 200 Euro bekommen.'
Avoid 'Machen'
Never say 'Ich mache eine Gehaltserhöhung'. It sounds like you are printing the money yourself!
Privacy
If a German friend tells you they got a raise, don't ask 'How much?'. Instead, say 'Herzlichen Glückwunsch!'
Synonyms
Use 'erhalten' instead of 'bekommen' in formal letters to sound more professional.
Examples
6Schatz, ich habe heute endlich eine Gehaltserhöhung bekommen!
Honey, I finally got a raise today!
A very common way to share personal success.
Unter welchen Bedingungen könnte ich eine Gehaltserhöhung bekommen?
Under what conditions could I get a raise?
Using the phrase to negotiate future pay.
Gehaltserhöhung ist durch! Wir gehen heute feiern! 🍻
The raise went through! We're celebrating today!
Short and punchy for a text message.
In dieser Firma wird man nie eine Gehaltserhöhung bekommen.
In this company, one will never get a raise.
Used here in a negative, frustrated context.
Mein Hund hat eine Gehaltserhöhung in Form von mehr Leckerlis bekommen.
My dog got a raise in the form of more treats.
Using professional language for a funny domestic situation.
Hast du gehört? Thomas hat eine ordentliche Gehaltserhöhung bekommen.
Did you hear? Thomas got a decent raise.
Using 'ordentlich' to imply the raise was substantial.
Test Yourself
Füllen Sie die Lücke mit der richtigen Form von 'bekommen'.
Letztes Jahr habe ich eine große Gehaltserhöhung ______.
In the Perfekt tense, the past participle of 'bekommen' is 'bekommen'.
Welcher Artikel ist richtig?
Ich hoffe, dass ich bald ___ Gehaltserhöhung bekomme.
Gehaltserhöhung is feminine, and here it is in the accusative case.
Vervollständigen Sie das Gespräch.
A: Warum bist du so glücklich? B: Ich habe heute mit meinem Chef gesprochen und ich ____.
This is the standard way to report the news in the past tense.
Verbinden Sie die passenden Teile.
Match the verb with the context.
These are standard professional collocations.
🎉 Score: /4
Visual Learning Aids
Practice Bank
4 exercisesLetztes Jahr habe ich eine große Gehaltserhöhung ______.
In the Perfekt tense, the past participle of 'bekommen' is 'bekommen'.
Ich hoffe, dass ich bald ___ Gehaltserhöhung bekomme.
Gehaltserhöhung is feminine, and here it is in the accusative case.
A: Warum bist du so glücklich? B: Ich habe heute mit meinem Chef gesprochen und ich ____.
This is the standard way to report the news in the past tense.
Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:
These are standard professional collocations.
🎉 Score: /4
Frequently Asked Questions
10 questionsTechnically yes, for manual labor you use 'Lohnerhöhung', but in modern German, 'Gehaltserhöhung' is often used for everyone.
Yes, in spoken German 'kriegen' is very common, but it is considered informal. Avoid it in writing.
'Erhalten' is more formal. You would use it in a contract or a formal report. 'Bekommen' is the standard everyday word.
You say: 'Ich frage nach einer Gehaltserhöhung' or 'Ich bitte um eine Gehaltserhöhung'.
It is always 'die' because the word ends in '-ung', which is a feminine suffix.
Yes, 'bekommen' is a transitive verb and the thing you receive is the direct object in the accusative case.
A 'Nullrunde' is when employees do NOT get a raise for a certain period, usually a year.
No, 'gewinnen' is for the lottery or a game. A raise is earned or received.
That would be an 'Inflationsausgleich' or a 'reale Gehaltserhöhung'.
In many sectors with 'Tarifverträge', yes. In private companies, it usually depends on the 'Jahresgespräch'.
Related Phrases
mehr Geld verdienen
similarTo earn more money
eine Beförderung erhalten
builds onTo get a promotion
eine Gehaltskürzung hinnehmen
contrastTo accept a pay cut
Tarifverhandlungen führen
specialized formTo conduct collective bargaining
