Talking about your family, however large or small, is a common topic of conversation. Whether you’re getting to know someone or introducing a new partner to your parents, it’s essential to know the names of family members in German.
Not only do you need to know all the names for family members in German, but also how to talk about your family. In this post you will hear example sentences of typical conversations about family.
After reading this post you will know:
Names for family members in German
How to talk about your family with example sentences
The best ways to talk about relationships in German
Mein Onkel hat eine Tochter. Sie ist meine Cousine.
My uncle has a daughter. She is my cousin.
Ich habe zwei Nichten, sie sind die Kinder meiner Schwestern.
I have two nieces, they are my sister’s children.
Extended Family Members in German
Of course many families are quite complex, with a lot of extended family.
der Stiefvater
the step father
die Stiefmutter
the step mother
der Stiefbruder
the step brother
die Stiefschwester
the step sister
der Stiefsohn
the step son
die Stieftochter
the step daughter
der Schwiegervater
the father-in-law
die Schwiegermutter
the mother-in-law
der Schwiegersohn
the son-in-law
die Schwiegertochter
the daughter-in-law
der Schwager
the brother-in-law
die Schwägerin
the sister-in-law
Cute Names for Family Members in German
Just like in English, there are less formal names for family members in German. Most of us don’t call our mothers ‘mother’, we say ‘mom / mum’. Here are some common, alternative names for family members:
Mutter
Mutti / Mama
Mother > Mom / Mum
Vater
Vati / Papa
Father > Dad
Großvater
Opa
Grandfather > Granddad
Großmutter
Oma
Grandmother > Granny
Relationships in German
Family members aren’t always blood relatives. Someone may join a family when they are in a relationship with another person, therefore it’s also important to know how to talk about relationships in German.
der Ehemann / der Mann
the husband
die Ehefrau / die Frau
the wife
der Freund
the boyfriend
die Freundin
the girlfriend
der Familienstand
the relationship status
die Beziehung
the relationship
ledig
single
verheiratet
married
geschieden
divorced
You may have spotted in this list that der Freund / die Freundin means boyfriend / girlfriend, but it also means male friend / female friend. This can be a bit confusing but you can read about how to tell the difference in my ’10 Ways to Say ‘Friend’ in German’ post.
Example Sentences
Ich bin seit 10 Jahren mit meinem Mann verheiratet.
I’ve been married to my husband for 10 years.
Ich war bis letztes Jahr mit meinem Freund zusammen, aber jetzt bin ich ledig.
I was with my boyfriend until last year but now I’m single.
🙂 nice but what about nicknames for brother and sister like Mutter = Mama and Vatter = Papa