adjectiveadverb

professionell

professional · professionally

So, dass jemand etwas sehr gut kann und es ernst und sicher macht, oft durch viel Wissen und Übung.

Definition & meaning

Professionell means professional: connected with a profession or paid work. It can also describe someone who works with skill, competence, and suitable conduct.

Depending on context, it may mean:

Related to a profession: professionelle Ausbildung (“professional training”).
Skilled and competent: Sie arbeitet professionell (“She works professionally”).
Polished or businesslike: ein professioneller Auftritt (“a polished, professional appearance”).

In some contexts, especially in sports, it means that an activity is pursued as a paid career rather than as a hobby.

Grammar & word origin

Professionell is an adjective and can also be used adverbially. Its endings change according to grammatical case, gender, and number: professioneller Service (“professional service”), eine professionelle Lösung (“a professional solution”).

The word is formed from Profession and the adjective-forming suffix -ell. It ultimately derives from Latin professio, meaning a declaration or occupation. The comparative is professioneller and the superlative is am professionellsten.

Synonyms & antonyms

Possible synonyms include:

fachkundig — knowledgeable and skilled in a subject; emphasizes expertise more than professional conduct.
kompetent — capable and qualified; focuses on ability rather than whether the work is part of a profession.
sachkundig — well-informed and technically knowledgeable, often about a particular matter.
beruflich — connected with one’s job or career; does not necessarily imply high skill or polished conduct.

Possible antonyms include:

unprofessionell — lacking the competence, standards, or conduct expected of a professional.
laienhaft — amateurish or done by a non-expert; emphasizes lack of expertise.