German Phrase
Arbeitest du samstags?
Meaning
Literally: ‘Do you work on Saturdays?’ It asks whether the listener’s job includes Saturday shifts. The question expects a yes/no answer, often followed by a short explanation.
When to use
Use this phrase when you want to know a colleague’s weekend schedule, when you’re planning a joint activity and need to check availability, or during a job interview to clarify working hours.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Arbeitestdusamstags?
Verb conjugation – arbeiten
‘Arbeiten’ is a regular verb. In the present tense, 2nd person singular adds –st: ich arbeite, du **arbeitest**, er/sie/es arbeitet.
Subject‑verb inversion
For yes/no questions the verb moves before the subject: **Arbeitest du** …
Adverb of frequency – samstags
‘Samstags’ means ‘on Saturdays’ and is used like an adverb; it does not need a preposition.
Pronoun ‘du’
Use ‘du’ only with people you address informally. With strangers or in a professional setting you would use ‘Sie’.
🗨In Conversation
Arbeitest du samstags?
Do you work on Saturdays?
Ja, ich habe jeden zweiten Samstag frei.
Yes, I have every second Saturday off.
✕Common Mistakes
Arbeitest du samstag?
‘Samstag’ is a noun; the adverbial form ‘samstags’ is required when you mean ‘on Saturdays’.
Du arbeitest samstags?
This order makes a statement, not a question. The verb must precede the subject for a yes/no question.
Arbeitest du am samstags?
‘Am’ is unnecessary and grammatically incorrect with the adverb ‘samstags’. Use either ‘am Samstag’ (singular) or ‘samstags’ (plural).
↔Alternatives
Arbeitest du am Samstag?
Do you work on Saturday?
Bist du samstags im Dienst?
Are you on duty on Saturdays?
Hast du samstags Arbeit?
Do you have work on Saturdays?
Cultural Tip
In most German companies a regular Saturday shift is unusual, but it’s common in retail, hospitality, and healthcare. If you’re speaking to someone you don’t know well, switch to the formal ‘Arbeiten Sie samstags?’ to stay polite. Also, note that many Germans value a clear work‑life balance, so asking about Saturday work can be a subtle way of checking how flexible a schedule is.