nounnoun

der Sozialarbeiter, –

social worker

Eine Person, die Menschen hilft, Probleme in ihrem Alltag zu lösen und sie in schwierigen Lebenssituationen unterstützt.

Definition & meaning

A Sozialarbeiter is a professional trained to provide social work services. Their primary goal is to support individuals, families, or groups in navigating difficult life situations, such as poverty, addiction, family crises, or integration challenges. They act as advocates, mediators, and advisors, helping people access social services, secure housing, or improve their overall living conditions through counseling and practical assistance.

Grammar & Word origin

The word is a masculine compound noun consisting of two parts:

  1. Sozial: Derived from the Latin socialis, meaning "relating to society."
  2. Arbeiter: Derived from the verb arbeiten (to work), meaning "worker."

Grammatically, it follows the declension of masculine nouns ending in -er. The plural form is identical to the singular form: die Sozialarbeiter. The feminine equivalent is die Sozialarbeiterin.

Synonyms & antonyms

Synonyms:

  • Sozialpädagoge (Often used interchangeably in German contexts, though it implies a pedagogical focus)
  • Sozialbetreuer
  • Sozialhelfer

Antonyms: There are no direct linguistic antonyms for this profession, as it describes a specific job role rather than a binary quality.

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Examples

Der Sozialarbeiter unterstützt benachteiligte Familien.noun

The social worker supports disadvantaged families.

Ein Sozialarbeiter hilft Personen in schwierigen Lebenslagen.noun

A social worker helps people in difficult life situations.

Der Sozialarbeiter berät Familien in schwierigen Lebenslagen.noun

The social worker advises families in difficult life situations.

Ein Sozialarbeiter hilft Menschen in Not.noun

A social worker helps people in need.

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