Yuliya Geikhman Last updated: Family in German: 41 Key Vocabulary Words
Have you ever noticed how often family comes up in conversation? Familie is “family” in German, and the plural is Familien .
Whether you’re learning German for the first time or looking to expand your vocabulary, understanding how to talk about family is essential for everyday conversations.
Let’s explore how to talk about family in German, from your immediate to your extended family and beyond.
Contents
- How to Say “Family” in German
- How to Talk About Family Members in German
- The Importance of Family in German Culture
- And One More Thing...
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How to Say “Family” in German
The word for “family” in German is Familie and the plural is Familien .
The word is pretty much synonymous, but just be sure to learn it as a singular word, not plural. Often in English, you’ll hear people say “My family are” instead of “My family is.” This doesn’t fly in German—so be sure to always conjugate whatever verb you’re using to the third person singular!
Here are a few examples:
Meine Familie ist groß. — My family is big.
Ich liebe meine Familie. — I love my family.
Wie geht es deiner Familie? — How is your family?
Seine Familie kommt aus Deutschland. — His family is from Germany.
Es gibt viele Familien in dieser Nachbarschaft. — There are many families in this neighborhood.
How to Talk About Family Members in German
Immediate Family in German
| German | English |
|---|---|
| die Mutter | the mother |
| die Mama | the mom (informal) |
| der Vater | the father |
| der Papa | the dad (informal) |
| die Tochter | the daughter |
| der Sohn | the son |
| die Geschwister | the siblings |
| die Schwester | the sister |
| die ältere Schwester | the older sister |
| die jüngere Schwester | the younger sister |
| der Bruder | the brother |
| der ältere Bruder | the older brother |
| der jüngere Bruder | the younger brother |
| die Frau | the wife |
| der Mann | the husband |
| das Kind | the child |
| die Tante | the aunt |
| der Onkel | the uncle |
| der Cousin | the (male) cousin |
| die Cousine | the (female) cousin |
Extended Family in German
| German | English |
|---|---|
| die Großmutter | the grandmother |
| der Großvater | the grandfather |
| die Enkelin | the granddaughter |
| der Enkel | the grandson |
| die Nichte | the niece |
| der Neffe | the nephew |
| die Urgroßmutter | the great-grandmother |
| der Urgroßvater | the great-grandfather |
| die Urenkelin | the great-granddaughter |
| der Urenkel | the great-grandson |
| die Schwiegermutter | the mother-in-law |
| der Schwiegervater | the father-in-law |
| die Schwägerin | the sister-in-law |
| der Schwager | the brother-in-law |
| die Stiefmutter | the step-mother |
| der Stiefvater | the step-father |
| die Stieftochter | the step-daughter |
| der Stiefsohn | the step-son |
| die Halbschwester | the half-sister |
| der Halbbruder | the half-brother |
Sample Sentences for Talking About Family
You just learned a lot of words! How do you actually put them to use? You can start by adapting the sentences below to suit whatever you need to say.
- Das ist meine Familie. — This is my family.
- Wir sind eine glückliche Familie. — We are a happy family.
- Ich habe einen Bruder und eine Schwester. — I have a brother and a sister.
- Meine Eltern leben in New York. — My parents live in New York.
- Ich verbringe gerne Zeit mit meinen Kindern. — I love spending time with my children.
- Wie geht es deiner Schwester? — How is your sister?
- Familie ist das Wichtigste im Leben. — Family is the most important thing in life.
- Meine Großeltern wohnen in einem kleinen Dorf. — My grandparents live in a small village.
- Ich habe viele Cousins und Cousinen. — I have many cousins.
- Wie viele Geschwister hast du? — How many siblings do you have?
- Erzähl mir mehr von deiner Familie. — Tell me more about your family.
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The Importance of Family in German Culture
Family is highly valued in German culture. Germans often maintain strong ties with their immediate and extended families and there’s a strong sense of loyalty and commitment to your family.
The German social welfare system is also family-oriented, with policies that support families, especially those with children. This includes parental leave, childcare services and financial assistance. German parents are entitled to a whopping three years of parental leave… per child!
There’s also a strong emphasis on respecting and caring for elders in German families. Grandparents often play an active role in the lives of their grandchildren, providing wisdom and guidance. They’re generally well taken care of by the country when they need additional care later in life.
While elders are important, the typical German household consists of mother, father and children, with extended relatives and elders generally living on their own.
Special events and holidays are often celebrated at home with the family. These events bring family members together and are marked by traditions and rituals.
In fact, spending some down time with the fam is so important to German culture that it’s celebrated by Kaffee und Kuchen, an hour break from a work day to relax over coffee and cake with family (or friends/coworkers).
German family words are a breeze to remember, especially as an English speaker.
And remember: We’re all part of the German language learning family!
And One More Thing...
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