40 Useful Family Vocabulary In German

Published by Janica Hieronimi on May 22, 2021

Want to learn the family vocabulary in German for all the family members? Family (die Familie) is essential, so whether you have a big or small family, the terms of the members are something you should be familiar with. Although it might be difficult to tell the difference between aunts and uncles and cousins once, twice, or three times, brothers-in-law and all of those, we want to address them correctly! So let’s take a look at the vocabulary of the family tree in the German language.

Family Vocabulary In German

German	English Translation
die Familie, -n	family (families)
die Ehe,-n	marriage(s)
der Ehemann, die Ehemänner	husband(s)
die Ehefrau, die Ehefrauen	wife (wives)
die Eltern	parents
die Großeltern	grandparents
die Mutter, die Mütter	mother(s)
der Vater, die Väter	father(s)
die Großmutter/die Oma,-s	grandmother(s)
der Großvater / der Opa,-s	grandfather(s)
das Kind, die Kinder	child(ren)
der Sohn, die Söhne	son(s)
die Tochter, die Töchter	daughter(s)
der Zwilling, -e	twin(s)
die Geschwister	siblings
der Bruder, die Brüder	brother(s)
die Schwester, -n	sister(s)
die Enkelkinder	grandchildren
der Enkel	grandson
die Enkelin, -nen	granddaughter(s)
die Tante-n	aunt(s)
der Onkel	uncle(s)
der Neffe, -n	nephew(s)
die Nichte, -n	niece(s)
der Cousin, -s	male cousin(s)
die Cousine, -n	female cousin(s)
der Verwandte, -n	male relative(s)
die Verwandte,-n	female relative(s)
der Verlobte	fiancé
der Freund	boyfriend
die Freundin	girlfriend
die Schwiegereltern	parents-in-law
der Schwiegervater, die Schwiegerväter	father-in-law
die Schwiegermutter, die Schwiegermütter	mother-in-law
der Schwiegersohn, die Schwiegersöhne	son-in-law
die Schwiegertochter, die Schwiegertöchter	daughter in law
der Schwager, die Schwäger	brother-in-law
die Schwägerin, -nen	sister(s) in law
Adoptiertes Kind	adopted child
Haustier, -e	pet(s)

The Relationship Status

Family Vocabulary In German

Relationship status: It isn’t straightforward. Is it really? The distinct options that define a person’s relationship with a significant other are civil status and marital status. Civil statuses include married, single, divorced, and widowed. Here are the most common forms of relationship status:

ledig – single, unmarried

verheiratet – married

verwitwet – widowed

geschieden – divorced

verlobt – engaged

in einer Beziehung – in a relationship

getrennt – separated

es ist kompliziert – it’s complicated

Let’s Talk About The Family Vocabulary In German

Imagine you arrive at your freshly booked Airbnb in Berlin, and your host invites you to a welcome dinner. But oooh, you find yourself suddenly at the table eating with his parents, some friends, his cousin, and his grandmother, too, and your host starts to introduce everyone, pointing to each person as he states their name. To save you from an embarrassing moment, some of these phrases might be useful:

Ich möchte dir meine Eltern vorstellen. Das sind mein Papa und meine Mutter. Und dort sitzt meine Nichte und meine Schwägerin. – I want to introduce you to my parents. This is my mum and dad. Over there sit my nice and my sister in law.

Wer ist deine Mutter? –Who is your mother?

Das ist meine Mutter. – This is my mother.

Wie viele Geschwister hast du? – How many siblings do you have?

Ich habe zwei Geschwister, zusammen sind wir 3 Kinder. – I have two siblings, together we are three kids.

Hast du einen Bruder oder eine Schwester? – Do you have a brother or a sister?

Hast du Geschwister? – Do you have siblings?

Ja, ich habe zwei Brüder und eine Schwester. – Yes, I have two brothers and one sister.

Wie ist der Name deines Bruders? – What is the name of your brother?

Mein Bruder heißt Rolf. – My brothers name is Rolf.

Bist du verheiratet? – Are you married?

Nein ich bin geschieden. – No I am divorced.

Ist sie deine Ex-(Ehe)frau? – Is she your ex-wife?

Nein, das ist meine Nichte Eva. – No, this is my niece Eva.

Habt ihr Haustiere? – Do you have pets?

Ja wir haben einen Hund und zwei Katzen. – Yes we have a dog and two cats.

Wie alt ist euer Baby? – How old is your baby?

Anton ist 5 Monate alt. – Anton is 5 months old.

Wir haben eine große Familie. – We have a big family.

Meine Großeltern sind schon alt. – My grandparents are old.

Morgen ist die Hochzeit meines Bruders. – Tomorrow is my brothers wedding.

Du hast eine tolle Familie. – You have a great family.

Families in Germany are respectively more minor than those in the United States. You may argue that this is due to space constraints in a nation far smaller than the United States or linked in part to social ideals and more complex aspects of German culture.

Whatever the reasons may be, Germans have a lot of respect in the distinctions between public and private lives, so you won’t see many Germans sharing the kinds of things that most Americans do on Facebook, for example. They are a bit more reserved about their relatives and the size of the family and their related members.

Fun Fact:

Family Vocabulary In German

Did you know in Germany exists something called ‘Kindergeld’? It’s free government support for families and their kids. Especially for single mothers or low-income families, it is official monthly support, similar to what is known in America as child support, given to the parents in addition to their income until the child(ren) reaches a certain age.

We Are Family

Now that you know all the ways to address all the loved ones in your life in German. Why not give your family a call? Or better yet, take them on a trip to Germany. They will surely be impressed if you can communicate like a German when you visit the country. If you think this is impossible, then you haven’t tried the Readle – lean German App. With only a few minutes of your time each day, you will be improving very fast. You can read interesting stories and listen to them read by a native speaker. That’ll make you a pro in the German language in no time. Download the App and learn German vocabulary in context, starting today!