There is no doubt that German is a complex language, and this is especially true when it comes to having a conversation with native speakers. However, one great way you can improve your proficiency is by learning how to talk about Family in German. Learning how to talk about family members in German can open doors to personal conversation, improve language acquisition, and enhance your German vocabulary. To help you, in our blog below, we have listed common family-related terms and words which will help you in improving your German language proficiency. Read on!
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Talking about family in German is more than just knowing about vocabulary or better German understanding, but it is more about having a bond in a conversation. When you talk to someone about your family in German language, you can easily connect with them on a personal level. Be it meeting someone new, chatting with a friend, or visiting your partner’s family, knowing general German family vocabulary can be a first step to learning German.
But did you know that the German word Familie, which is pronounced fa-MEE-lee-eh, is closely related to its English counterpart “Family”? Similarly, its plural Familien simply adds a soft “-en” at the end: fa-MEE-lee-en.
In the sections below, you will find different terms and words in German that you can use for your various family members. These include:
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Our immediate family or close
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| English | German |
|---|---|
| Mother | Mutter |
| Father | Vater |
| Parents | Eltern |
| Brother | Bruder |
| Sister | Schwester |
| Siblings | Geschwister |
| Son | Sohn |
| Daughter | Tochter |
| Children | Kinder |
| Husband | Ehemann |
| Wife | Ehefrau |
After knowing about common vocabulary for immediate family, you can start learning about how you can refer to your extended family in German. You can use “Großfamilie” for your extended family, which translates to "large family".
Alternatively, you can say “erweiterte Familienmitglieder”, which means "extended family members". Some other common words for extended family members in German are:
| English | German |
|---|---|
| Grandmother/Grandma | Großmutter/Oma |
| Grandfather/Grandpa | Großvater/Opa |
| Grandparents | Großeltern |
| Grandchild | Enkelkind |
| Granddaughter | Enkelin |
| Grandson | Enkel |
| Aunt | Tante |
| Uncle | Onkel |
| Cousin (male) | Cousin |
| Cousin (female) | Cousine |
| Niece | Nichte |
| Nephew | Neffe |
| Great-Aunt | Urgroßtante |
| Great-grandfather | Ur-Großvater |
| Great-grandmother | Ur-Großmutter |
| Great-grandparents | Ur-Großeltern |
| Great-great-grandfather | Ururgroßvater |
| Great-great-grandmother | Ururgroßmutter |
| Great-Uncle | Urgroßonkel |
Your family members by marriage or in-laws are usually referred to as "Schwieg(er)-" For example, the mother-in-law is "die Schwiegermutter," and the father-in-law is "der Schwiegervater."
But did you know that just like any other country, even the in-law’s in Germany have a bad image and there is a common expression people use “Jemanden stiefmütterlich behandeln” (to treat someone step motherly), which in literal terms means to neglect or ignore someone. Some other words for family members by marriage are:
| English | German |
|---|---|
| Spouse (gender-neutral) | Ehepartner |
| Fiancé (male) | Verlobter |
| Fiancée (female) | Verlobte |
| Partner (male) | Partner |
| Partner (female) | Partnerin |
| Father-in-law | Schwiegervater |
| Mother-in-law | Schwiegermutter |
| Parents-in-law | Schwiegereltern |
| Brother-in-law | Schwager |
| Sister-in-law | Schwägerin |
| Son-in-law | Schwiegersohn |
| Daughter-in-law | Schwiegertochter |
Lastly, there are some common family-related terms that you can add to your German family vocabulary. Understanding these terms for other family members in German can help you in clear communication and get a better understanding of the culture.
When you know about terms like " Verlobt" (Engaged), " Verheiratet" (Married), and "Lebenspartner " (De facto partner), it will allow you to have precise discussions about family relationships and can even help you navigate everyday conversations.
| English | German |
|---|---|
| Family | Familie |
| Relatives | Verwandte |
| Relationship | Beziehung |
| Family member | Familienmitglied |
| Stepfather | Stiefvater |
| Stepmother | Stiefmutter |
| Stepparents | Stiefeltern |
| Stepbrother | Stiefbruder |
| Stepsister | Stiefschwester |
| Half-brother | Halbbruder |
| Half-sister | Halbschwester |
| Twins | Zwillinge |
| Single parent | Alleinerziehende(r) |
| Orphan | Waise |
| Godfather | Patenonkel |
| Godmother | Patentante |
| Godparents | Paten |
| Ancestors | Vorfahren |
| Descendants | Nachkommen |
| Household | Haushalt |
In addition to the common words for family in German, you can also use some family-related phrases to improve your conversation skills in German. These phrases for family in German language can help you carry on everyday conversations, in introducing yourself and even express personal expressions.
The phrases below will improve your German language levels and facilitate discussions about family history, relationships, and personal status.
| Phrase (German) | English Translation | Meaning or Usage |
|---|---|---|
| Familie ist, wo das Herz ist. | Family is where the heart is. | Used to express emotional connection over biological ties. |
| Blut ist dicker als Wasser. | Blood is thicker than water. | Family bonds are stronger than other relationships. |
| Wie die Mutter, so die Tochter. | Like mother, like daughter. | Used when a daughter strongly resembles or acts like her mother. |
| Mein Zuhause ist, wo meine Familie ist. | My home is where my family is. | Home is defined by the people you love, not a place. |
| Ich sehe viel von dir in deinem Vater. | I see a lot of you in your father. | Used to comment on family resemblance in personality or appearance. |
| Sie ist wie eine Schwester für mich. | She is like a sister to me. | To describe a very close friendship. |
| Er gehört zur Familie, auch ohne Trauschein. | He belongs to the family, even without a marriage certificate. | Used when referring to a long-term partner not legally married. |
| Das ist Familienangelegenheit. | That’s a family matter. | Used to say something is private or only for family to discuss. |
| In guten wie in schlechten Zeiten – wie eine Familie. | In good times and bad – like a family. | To describe loyalty, often in work teams or close friendships. |
| Familie kann man sich nicht aussuchen – Freunde schon. | You can’t choose your family – but you can choose your friends. | Often used humorously or affectionately. |
The next step to improve your German is by learning how to talk about family members in German, especially in daily situations. Knowing how to carry out simple conversations regarding your family members will help you in building connections and getting an understanding of how family plays a role in German life.
You can use these common conversations about family in German language to build stronger bonds and even foster emotional support. Additionally, these common conversations will also help in sharing experiences, values, and even get a sense of belonging.
1. Hast du Kinder? (Do you have children?)
Ja, ich habe einen Sohn und eine Tochter. (Yes, I have a son and a daughter.)
2. Wie alt sind deine Kinder? (How old are your children?)
Mein Sohn ist fünf und meine Tochter ist acht. (My son is five and my daughter is eight.)
3. Wohnst du mit deiner Familie zusammen? (Do you live with your family?)
Ja, ich wohne mit meiner Frau und unseren Kindern. (Yes, I live with my wife and our children.) or Nein, ich wohne alleine. (No, I live alone.)
4. Wie viele Cousins und Cousinen hast du? (How many cousins do you have?)
Ich habe drei Cousins und zwei Cousinen. (I have three male cousins and two female cousins.)
5. Wie oft siehst du deine Familie? (How often do you see your family?)
Jedes Wochenende oder an Feiertagen. (Every weekend or on holidays.)
6. Verstehst du dich gut mit deiner Familie? (Do you get along well with your family?)
Ja, wir haben ein sehr gutes Verhältnis. (Yes, we have a very good relationship.)
Another great way to improve your language proficiency is by involving yourself in conversations where you will have to describe your family in German language. This will help you in creating a natural starting point for language learning, as family is a common and relatable topic. You can take a reference from this:
In conclusion, knowing about common vocabulary words for family in German can be a great foundational topic and can be used to start conversations and build relationships with German speakers. However, it is a complex language which can take time to learn, but you can take German online coaching from our experts at Gradding.com. They will provide you with extensive resources as well to ace the Goethe A1 exam! Connect today!
Main Reasons Why you should Study in Germany
In Germany, "family" is called "Familie" which is pronounced as fa-mee-lee-uh.
A family name in German is called "Nachname" which is pronounced as nahkh-nah-meh. It's the last name, or surname, of a person.
The word "Familie" is feminine in German. So, you would say "die Familie" (the family).
The German word for father is "Vater" which is pronounced as FAH-ter. In everyday speech, people often say "Papa" (like "dad").
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