noun
apprentice, trainee
B1
Lehrling (der) means 'apprentice' or 'trainee' — someone in vocational training. Plural: die Lehrlinge. Common in workplace and trade-school contexts. Masculine noun by default; female apprentices often called Lehrling or Auszubildende. Regular declension; accusative den Lehrling, genitive des Lehrlings. Dative: dem Lehrling.
Examples
Der Lehrling lernt den Beruf im Betrieb.
The apprentice is learning the trade at the company.
Ich bin Lehrling.
I am an apprentice.
Der Meister gab dem Lehrling mehr Verantwortung, obwohl die Erfahrung des Lehrlings noch gering war.
The master gave the apprentice more responsibility, although the apprentice's experience was still limited.
Details
Mnemonics
Picture a young person learning a trade at a workshop bench.
Think of 'learner' — 'Lehrling' begins with 'lehr-' like 'learn'.
Der (masculine) — imagine a male apprentice with a hammer to remember 'der Lehrling'.
Notes
Traditional word for someone in vocational training; 'Azubi' (Auszubildende/r) is a common informal alternative.