A sales manager offers an eight per cent "provision" — and the American lawyer starts looking for the contract clause. Why the English word is "commission".
B2 · Monologue · 4 Min. · free
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Transcript
Key phrases
Language notes
In this episode a sales director explains the most expensive false friend in sales: German "Provision" is "commission" in English — the English "provision" is a contract clause. You learn the three core commission phrases and the other meanings of "provision" (arrangement, accounting reserve) at level B2.
Negotiating sales compensation takes exactly three patterns: "a commission rate of eight percent" (the rate), "to work on a commission basis" (the model) and "the commission is paid quarterly" (the payout). With these you can describe any partner model precisely. The amount itself pairs with "to earn" or "to receive": "Our partners receive a commission on every sale."
The English word "provision" has three business meanings — none of them money for salespeople: first the contract clause ("the confidentiality provision"), second the arrangement ("to make provision for delays"), third the accounting reserve ("a provision for bad debts"). The episode's rule of thumb: if it sits in a contract or in the accounts, it is a provision. If it lands in someone's pocket, it is a commission.
In American and British sales culture the commission structure is a completely normal negotiation topic. "What does the commission structure look like?" is considered professional, not intrusive — unlike in Germany, where compensation is often discussed only behind closed doors. Asking the question openly and answering it precisely signals negotiation experience.
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Frequently asked questions
Level B2 (CEFR). The monologue uses real-world sales and contract English; all eight key terms are explained bilingually.
"Commission". Examples: "We offer a commission rate of eight percent", "Our partners work on a commission basis". The English word "provision" means a contract clause, an arrangement or an accounting reserve — never the money from a sale.
Yes, the full transcript with German support notes is on this page — listen first, then take the test, then read along.
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