Überstunden machen

You use the verb machen (to make/do) with the noun Überstunden. Since Überstunden is plural, you don't need an article like 'a' or 'the' usually. You can say ich mache Überstunden or er muss Überstunden machen. It fits perfectly into standard German sentence structures. You can also specify how many hours. For example, Ich habe heute zwei Überstunden gemacht. It is straightforward and very hard to mess up!

Use this phrase whenever you are stuck at the office. It is perfect for explaining why you are late to dinner. Use it when talking to your boss about your workload. It works well when venting to friends about a busy week. You can use it in professional emails or casual texts. It is the standard term for this situation across all of Germany. If you are working late, this is your go-to phrase.

Do not use this for things that aren't 'work'. If you stay late at the gym, don't use it. If you spend extra time on a hobby, it doesn't fit. It specifically refers to professional labor or contractual obligations. Also, avoid using it if you are the boss and just choosing to stay. It usually implies a task that *needs* to be finished. Don't confuse it with Überstunden abbauen, which means taking time off later.

Germans take their 'Feierabend' (end of work) very seriously. Work-life balance is a huge cultural pillar here. In some cultures, staying late shows you are a hard worker. In Germany, it can sometimes mean you weren't efficient enough. However, many companies track these hours precisely. There is even a system called Gleitzeit (flexible time). This allows you to 'collect' hours and take a whole day off later. It is a very organized way of being busy!

You will often hear Überstunden schieben. This is a bit more idiomatic and implies a bit of a grind. Another one is Überstunden anhäufen, which means to accumulate a lot of them. If you are lucky, you get to Überstunden abbummeln. That is a fun way to say you're using those hours to leave early. Finally, bezahlte Überstunden refers to those sweet, sweet paid extra hours.