Etymology

From Middle High GermanCategory:German terms inherited from Middle High German#WERKCategory:German terms derived from Middle High German#WERK werc, from Old High GermanCategory:German terms inherited from Old High German#WERKCategory:German terms derived from Old High German#WERK werk, from Proto-West GermanicCategory:German terms inherited from Proto-West Germanic#WERKCategory:German terms derived from Proto-West Germanic#WERK *werk, from Proto-GermanicCategory:German terms inherited from Proto-Germanic#WERKCategory:German terms derived from Proto-Germanic#WERK *werką, from Proto-Indo-EuropeanCategory:German terms inherited from Proto-Indo-European#WERKCategory:German terms derived from Proto-Indo-European#WERK *wérǵom.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /vɛʁk/, [vɛʁk], [vɛɐ̯k]Category:German 1-syllable words#WERKCategory:German terms with IPA pronunciation#WERK

• Audio (Germany (Berlin)):

  (file)

  Category:German terms with audio pronunciation#WERK
• Rhymes: -ɛʁkCategory:Rhymes:German/ɛʁk#WERKCategory:Rhymes:German/ɛʁk/1 syllable#WERK

Noun

Werk n (strong, genitive Werkes or Werks, plural Werke, diminutive Werkchen n or Werklein n)Category:German lemmas#WERKCategory:German nouns#WERKCategory:German entries with incorrect language header#WERKCategory:German neuter nouns#WERKCategory:Pages with entries#WERKCategory:Pages with 1 entry#WERK

1. work, achievement (the result of working)

   Nach getaner Arbeit betrachtete er sein Werk.

   After having finished working, he looked at what he had achieved

   Category:German terms with usage examples#WERK

2. work, piece (of art, literature, or the like)

   Macbeth ist eins von Shakespeares wichtigsten Werken.

   Macbeth is one of Shakespeare's most important works.

   Category:German terms with usage examples#WERK

3. factory, plant, works

   Die Firma will ihr Stuttgarter Werk schließen.

   The company is going to close down its Stuttgart works.

   Category:German terms with usage examples#WERK

4. (religionCategory:de:Religion#WERK) work (morally relevant deed)

   Gott richtet den Menschen nach Glauben und Werken.

   God judges a person by their faith and works.

   Category:German terms with usage examples#WERK

5. (archaicCategory:German terms with archaic senses#WERK, except in compounds) labour, work (the occupation or process of working)

   Bergarbeit ist ein hartes Werk.

   Mining is hard work.

   Category:German terms with usage examples#WERK

Further reading

• Werk on the German Wikipedia.Wikipedia ^de
• “Werk” in Duden online
• “Werk”, in Digitales Wörterbuch der deutschen Sprache‎ (in German)
• “Werk” in Deutsches Wörterbuch von Jacob und Wilhelm Grimm, 16 vols., Leipzig 1854–1961.