Family and people
Who is who, from your in-laws to the neighbour you only nod at.
37 words · Level A1
| German | Translation | Listen |
|---|---|---|
| die ElternEltern | parents | |
| die MutterMütter | mother | |
| der VaterVäter | father | |
| der SohnSöhne | son | |
| die TochterTöchter | daughter | |
| der BruderBrüder | brother | |
| die SchwesterSchwestern | sister | |
| das GeschwisterGeschwister | siblings | |
| die GroßelternGroßeltern | grandparents | |
| die OmaOmas | grandma | |
| der OpaOpas | grandpa | |
| der EnkelEnkel | grandson | |
| der OnkelOnkel | uncle | |
| die TanteTanten | aunt | |
| der CousinCousins | cousin | |
| der NeffeNeffen | nephew | |
| die NichteNichten | niece | |
| der EhemannEhemänner | husband | |
| die EhefrauEhefrauen | wife | |
| der PartnerPartner | partner | |
| der FreundFreunde | friend | |
| die FreundinFreundinnen | girlfriend, female friend | |
| die SchwiegermutterSchwiegermütter | mother-in-law | |
| der SchwiegervaterSchwiegerväter | father-in-law | |
| die VerwandtschaftVerwandtschaften | kinship, relatives | |
| heiraten | to marry | |
| verheiratet | married | |
| ledig | single | |
| geschieden | divorced | |
| schwanger | pregnant | |
| das BabyBabys | baby | |
| der TeenagerTeenager | teenager | |
| der RentnerRentner | pensioner | |
| der VornameVornamen | first name | |
| der NachnameNachnamen | surname | |
| das AlterAlter | age | |
| der GeburtstagGeburtstage | birthday |
How these words get used
Freund and Freundin cover both a friend and a partner, and the possessive decides which. mein Freund is heard as "my boyfriend". For a plain friend people say ein Freund von mir. It is an easy way to announce a relationship by accident.
Eltern, Großeltern and Geschwister exist only in the plural. Geschwister means brothers and sisters together. Enkel is a grandson or a grandchild. The Schwieger- prefix builds the in-laws: Schwiegermutter, Schwiegervater.
heiraten takes a direct object with no preposition: Sie heiratet ihn. The state afterwards does use one: verheiratet mit. On official forms the options for marital status are words like ledig, verheiratet and geschieden. Note that ledig means never married, not simply "single right now".
Neffe adds -n outside the nominative: mit meinem Neffen. Oma and Opa are what nearly everyone calls their own grandparents. One custom around a Geburtstag: do not wish someone a happy birthday before the day itself. It is considered bad luck.
Translations are written with AI and checked as I go. If one looks wrong, reply to any email and tell me.