The German word (female: ' or ', plural: ') means civil servant, and is pronounced , with a glottal stop between the "e" and the "a". This English translation is ambiguous, as German law draws a distinction between two classes of public servants, namely regular public employees ('), who are generally subject to the same body of laws and regulations as employees in the private sector, and who have a privileged legal status. For example, the state can only fire "Beamte" if they commit a felony.