More than 44 million Americans have German ancestry, and even if you don’t live in a German-speaking country, you might feel a strong connection to your heritage. If you’ve ever wanted to explain in German that your great-great-grandfather came from Germany, you’re definitely not alone.
Learning how to talk about family members in German is one of the most natural ways to start speaking the language. A list of family members in German includes some of the first words native speakers learn as children. Words like “Mama,” “Papa,” “Oma,” and “Opa” are super easy to pronounce and really common in daily conversations.
We’ve put together a full guide that covers all family members in German, including a helpful family members in German list with examples, clear pronunciation help, and the correct use of articles like der, die, and das. Whether you’re looking for family members in German with articles, want to hear proper family members in German pronunciation, or just need a quick reference for how to say things like “my mom” or “your grandfather,” this guide has you covered.
So if you’ve been wondering how to talk about your family in German, how to say my family in German, or you’re simply curious about how the word family in German translates, you’re about to learn it all in a simple, fun, and beginner-friendly way.
Family in German Made Simple
Learning how to talk about family members in German is a great starting point for beginners. The word for family is Familie (plural Familien), pronounced “fah-mee-lee-eh,” and it sounds similar to English. If you’re searching for a list of family members in German, including all family members in German with articles, it’s helpful to know both formal and casual terms. For example, slang like “deine Alten” means “your old ones” (parents), but it can sound rude if used outside close circles. Mastering family members in German pronunciation and vocabulary in the family members in German language helps you connect with native speakers and express relationships naturally.
Whether you’re learning how to say my family in German, asking about someone else’s relatives, or talking about your family in German smalltalk, here are a few situations where you’ll definitely want to use the right terms:
- When meeting your German friend’s or partner’s family for the first time
- When making casual smalltalk in German and asking how someone’s family has been
- When getting to know someone new and asking about their family background or relationship status in a respectful way
Immediate Family Members in German: Easy and Fun Guide
When learning German, one of the first things you’ll want to know is how to talk about your close family. The immediate family in German is called Kernfamilie, which translates to “core family” or “nuclear family.” These are the people you’re most likely to mention when introducing yourself, writing about your life, or making small talk in German.
So, how do you refer to all the key family members in German? Here’s a simple list of family members in German with pronunciation so you can sound more natural and confident from the start.
Complete Family Members in German List (With Pronunciation)
| in German | in English | S |
|---|---|---|
| Mutter | Mother | |
| Mama | Mom | |
| Mami | Mommy | |
| Vater | Father | |
| Papa | Dad | |
| Papi, Paps | Pop | |
| Eltern | Parents | |
| Geschwister | Siblings | |
| Bruder | Brother | |
| Schwester | Sister | |
| Sohn | Son | |
| Tochter | Daughter | |
| (Ehe-)frau | Wife | |
| (Ehe-)mann | Husband |
Each of these words is a must-know if you’re trying to express your family in German. Whether you’re saying “this is my brother” (Das ist mein Bruder) or “I love my family” (Ich liebe meine Familie), knowing how to say these words will help you connect in everyday conversations.
If you’re searching for how to say my family in German or want to understand family members in German with articles, this list is your go-to resource. Plus, pronunciation is included to make sure you’re not just reading the words but saying them like a native speaker would.
Extended Family in German: Easy Guide to Bigger Family Terms
Most families are bigger than just your parents and siblings. If you want to talk about your grandparents, cousins, aunts, uncles, or even your great-great-grandparents in German, knowing the right words is key. Learning these extended family members in German will help you describe your whole family tree in conversations, stories, or when getting to know someone new.
Here’s a full list of common extended family members in German, along with pronunciation to help you speak confidently.
List of Extended Family Members in German (With Pronunciation)
| in German | in English | S |
|---|---|---|
| Großmutter | Grandmother | |
| Oma | Grandma | |
| Großvater | Grandfather | |
| Opa | Grandpa | |
| Großeltern | Grandparents | |
| Cousine | Female cousin | |
| Cousin | Male cousin | |
| Tante | Aunt | |
| Onkel | Uncle | |
| Nichte | Niece | |
| Neffe | Nephew | |
| Ur-Großeltern | Great-grandparents | |
| Ur-Großmutter | Great-grandmother | |
| Ur-Großvater | Great-grandfather | |
| Urgroßtante | Great-Aunt | |
| Urgroßonkel | Great-Uncle | |
| Ururgroßmutter | Great-great-grandmother | |
| Ururgroßvater | Great-great-grandfather |
Whether you want to say “My grandmother is kind” (Meine Großmutter ist nett) or “I have many cousins” (Ich habe viele Cousinen und Cousins), these words will help you sound natural and respectful when talking about your family in German.
If you’re wondering how to say family in German language or need a detailed family members in German list with articles and pronunciation, this guide has you covered. Understanding these words also helps you engage in deeper conversations like asking about someone’s family or sharing your own family history.
Family Members by Marriage in German: Step and In-laws
In Germany, just like in many other countries, in-laws sometimes get a bit of a bad rap though most people actually get along well with their in-laws. One interesting German phrase that reflects this stereotype is “Jemanden stiefmütterlich behandeln,” which literally means “to treat someone stepmotherly,” but is used to say someone is being neglected or ignored.
If you want to talk about your stepfamily or in-laws in German, knowing these terms will help you sound natural and respectful. Here’s a helpful list of family members in German by marriage, including step-relatives and in-laws, with pronunciation to guide you.
Family Members by Marriage in German (Step and In-laws) — List with Pronunciation
| in German | in English | S |
|---|---|---|
| Stiefmutter | Stepmom | |
| Stiefvater | Stepdad | |
| Stiefschwester | Step-sister | |
| Stiefbruder | Step-brother | |
| Schwiegereltern | Parents-in-law | |
| Schwiegermutter | Mother-in-law | |
| Schwiegervater | Father-in-law | |
| Schwiegertochter | Daughter-in-law | |
| Schwiegersohn | Son-in-law |
Using these words, you can describe your extended family situation clearly in German. Whether you want to say “My stepmom is kind” (Meine Stiefmutter ist nett) or “I get along well with my in-laws” (Ich komme gut mit meinen Schwiegereltern aus), these terms will help you express family relationships accurately.
Other Family-Related Terms in German: Beyond Biology
Family isn’t just about blood it’s about all the people you love and choose to include. Whether you’re talking about adoption, marriage, or different family roles, these terms will help you describe your unique family in German.
Imagine a father reading a book to his son and daughter that warm family moment can be described beautifully in German with these words.
Other Important Family-Related Terms in German with Pronunciation
| in German | in English | S |
|---|---|---|
| Adoptiert | Adopted | |
| Leihmutter | Surrogate | |
| Zwillinge | Twins | |
| Drillinge | Triplets | |
| Vierlinge | Quadruplets | |
| Gatte | Male spouse | |
| Gattin | Female spouse | |
| Partner | Male partner | |
| Partnerin | Female partner | |
| Lebenspartner | De facto partner | |
| Verliebt | In love | |
| Verlobt | Engaged | |
| Verheiratet | Married | |
| Getrennt | Separated | |
| Geschieden | Divorced | |
| Witwe | Widow | |
| Pflegemutter | Foster mom | |
| Pflegevater | Foster dad | |
| Pflegekind | Foster child | |
| Patentante | Godmother | |
| Patenonkel | Godfather | |
| Patensohn | Godson | |
| Patentochter | Goddaughter | |
| Baby | Baby | |
| Kleinkind | Toddler | |
| Tween | Tween | |
| Teenager | Teenager | |
| Jugendlicher / Jugendliche | Youth | |
| Erwachsener / Erwachsene | Adult | |
| Verwandter / Verwandte | Relative | |
| Vorfahren | Ancestors | |
| Generation | Generation | |
| Jüngstes Kind | Youngest child | |
| Mittelkind | Middle child | |
| Ältestes Kind | Eldest child | |
| Kernfamilie | Nuclear family | |
| Kleinfamilie | Small family | |
| Patchwork-Familie | Blended family |
Talking about family in day to day situations
When you meet someone new, the first thing you probably want to know is their name. Next up, asking about their family is a great way to get to know them a little bit. You might want to ask if they have siblings or children and chat about your own family situation. So we’ll get you started with the basics.
Colleagues introduce themselves and talk a little about their families in German.
Common conversation
| English | German | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| Question: Do you have siblings? | Frage: Hast du Geschwister? | [hast du ɡəˈʃvɪstɐ]? |
| Answer: Yes, I have a big brother and two little sisters. | Antwort: Ja, ich habe einen großen Bruder und zwei kleine Schwestern. | [ja ɪç ˈhaːbə ˈaɪ̯nən ˈɡʁoːsən ˈbʁuːdɐ ʊnt t͡svaɪ̯ ˈklaɪ̯nə ˈʃvɛstɐn] |
| Question: Do you have a big family? | Frage: Hast du eine große Familie? | [hast du ˈaɪ̯nə ˈɡʁoːsə faˈmiːli̯ə]? |
| Answer: My family consists of my dad, my stepmom, my brother Bruno and my cat Fräulein Miez. | Antwort: Meine Familie besteht aus meinem Papa, meiner Stiefmama, meinem Bruder Bruno und meiner Katze Fräulein Miez. | [ˈmaɪ̯nə faˈmiːli̯ə bəˈʃteːt aʊ̯s ˈmaɪ̯nəm ˈpapa ˈmaɪ̯nɐ ˈʃtiːfˌmama ˈmaɪ̯nəm ˈbʁuːdɐ ˈbʁuːno ʊnt ˈmaɪ̯nɐ ˈkat͡sə ˈfʁɔɪ̯laɪ̯n miːts] |
| Question: Do your parents live close by? | Frage: Leben deine Eltern in der Nähe? | [ˈleːbən ˈdaɪ̯nə ˈʔɛltɐn ɪn deːɐ̯ ˈnɛːə]? |
| Answer: No, my parents both live in Hamburg and I live in Frankfurt. | Antwort: Nein, meine Eltern leben beide in Hamburg und ich lebe in Frankfurt. | [naɪ̯n ˈmaɪ̯nə ˈʔɛltɐn ˈleːbən ˈbaɪ̯də ɪn ˈhambʊʁk ʊnt ɪç ˈleːbə ɪn ˈfʁaŋkfʊʁt] |
Age
An easy follow-up question is to ask their sibling’s age (or their puppy’s!). Remember pets absolutely are part of the family. So don’t forget to include them in the conversation. If you need help remembering what to call your pet in German, check out our fun guides on animals and birds in German.
| English | German | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| Question: Is your sister older or younger than you? | Frage: Ist deine Schwester älter oder jünger als du? | [ɪst ˈdaɪ̯nə ˈʃvɛstɐ ˈɛltɐ ˈoːdɐ ˈjʏŋɐ als du]? |
| Answer: My sister is two years younger than me. | Antwort: Meine Schwester ist zwei Jahre jünger als ich. | [ˈmaɪ̯nə ˈʃvɛstɐ ɪst t͡svaɪ̯ ˈjaːʁə ˈjʏŋɐ als ɪç] |
| Question: How old are your siblings? | Frage: Wie alt sind deine Geschwister? | [viː ʔalt zɪnt ˈdaɪ̯nə ɡəˈʃvɪstɐ]? |
| Answer: My little brother is only 10. He is still in school. My other brother is in college. | Antwort: Mein kleiner Bruder ist erst 10. Er geht noch zur Schule. Mein anderer Bruder studiert. | [maɪ̯n ˈklaɪ̯nɐ ˈbʁuːdɐ ɪst ʔeːɐ̯st t͡sɛhn eːɐ̯ ɡeːt nɔx t͡suːɐ ˈʃuːlə maɪ̯n ˈʔandɐɐ ˈbʁuːdɐ ʃtuˈdiːɐt] |
| Question: How old are your pets? | Frage: Wie alt sind deine Haustiere? | [viː ʔalt zɪnt ˈdaɪ̯nə ˈhaʊ̯sˌtiːʁə]? |
| Answer: My puppy is only one year old, and my parrot is two. | Antwort: Mein Welpe ist erst ein Jahr alt, und mein Papagei ist zwei. | [maɪ̯n ˈvɛlpə ɪst ʔeːɐ̯st ʔaɪ̯n jaːɐ̯ ʔalt ʊnt maɪ̯n papaˈɡaɪ̯ ɪst t͡svaɪ̯] |
Describing your family in German
Do you have your mom’s eyes but your dad’s ears? There are many things you can say about your family, all of them great for small talk.
| English | German | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| My mother and father have brown eyes, like me, but my sister has blue eyes. | Meine Mutter und mein Vater haben braune Augen, wie ich, aber meine Schwester hat blaue Augen. | [ˈmaɪ̯nə ˈmʊtɐ ʊnt maɪ̯n ˈfaːtɐ ˈhaːbən ˈbʁaʊ̯nə ˈʔaʊ̯ɡn̩ viː ɪç ˈʔaːbɐ ˈmaɪ̯nə ˈʃvɛstɐ hat ˈblaʊ̯ə ˈʔaʊ̯ɡn̩] |
| I got my curly black hair from my dad. My mother has red hair. | Ich hab die schwarzen Locken von meinem Vater. Meine Mutter hat rote Haare. | [ɪç hap diː ˈʃvaʁʦən ˈlɔkən fɔn ˈmaɪ̯nəm ˈfaːtɐ ˈmaɪ̯nə ˈmʊtɐ hat ˈʁoːtə ˈhaːʁə] |
| I’m married to a twin. | Ich bin mit einem Zwilling verheiratet. | [ɪç bɪn mɪt ˈaɪ̯nəm ˈt͡svɪlɪŋ fɛɐ̯ˈhaɪ̯ʁaːtət] |
| I’m adopted. | Ich bin adoptiert. | [ɪç bɪn ʔadɔpˈtiːɐ̯t] |
| I call my parents once a month. | Ich telefoniere einmal im Monat mit meinen Eltern. | [ɪç tɛlɛfoˈniːʁə ˈaɪ̯nmal ʔɪm ˈmoːnat mɪt ˈmaɪ̯nən ˈʔɛltɐn] |
| I’m a cat person but my boyfriend is more of a dog person. | Ich bin ein Katzenmensch, aber mein Freund ist eher ein Hundemensch. | [ɪç bɪn ʔaɪ̯n ˈkat͡sn̩mɛnʃ ˈʔaːbɐ maɪ̯n fʁɔʏ̯nt ɪst ˈeːɐ̯ ʔaɪ̯n ˈhʊndəmɛnʃ] |
Family-related German idioms
There are some fun idioms and sayings about family members in German. To raise someone literally means “to pull someone tall” (großziehen), which, like many quirky German expressions, creates a vivid picture as if you could just grab the child by the head and feet and start pulling them until they’re tall.
Also, having custody over a child is called “the right to worry about them” (Sorgerecht), and the big toe is nicknamed the “Big uncle” in German (Großer Onkel).
| German | IPA | Literal Translation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Großziehen | [ˈɡʁoːsˌt͡siːən] | To pull big | To raise |
| Sorgerecht | [ˈzɔʁɡəˌʁɛçt] | The right to worry | Custody |
| Spielkind | [ʃpiːlkaɪnd] | Playchild | Someone who likes to play around |
| Wir werden das Kind schon schaukeln | [vi:ɐ̯ ˈvɛʁdn̩ das kɪnt ʃo:n ˈʃaʊ̯kl̩n] | We’re gonna rock the child | We got this |
| In den Schoß der Familie zurückkehren | [ɪn de:n ʃɔs de:ɐ̯ fami:ljə t͡su:ʁʏkke:ʁən] | To return to the lap of the family | To return to the fold |
| Sich ins gemachte Nest setzen | [zɪç ɪns gəmaxtə nɛst zɛt͡sən] | To sit down in the nest that’s already made | To benefit from other people’s work |
| Rabenmutter | [ˈʁaːbm̩ˈmʊtɐ] | Raven-mother | Heartless mother |
| Das schwarze Schaf | [das ˈʃvaʁt͡sə ʃaːf] | The black sheep | The odd one in the family |
| Nicht von schlechten Eltern | [nɪçt fɔn ʃlɛçtn̩ ˈɛltɐn] | Not from bad parents | Good quality |
| Der große Onkel | [deːɐ̯ ˈɡʁoːsəˈɔŋkl̩] | The big uncle | The big toe |
| Tante-Emma-Laden | [tantəˈʔɛmaˌlaːdn̩] | Aunt-Emma-Shop | Corner store |
| Wurdest du als Kind zu heiß gebadet? | [ˈvʊʁdəst du: als kɪnt t͡su: haɪ̯s ɡəˈbaːdət] | Have you been bathed too hot as a child? | Have you been dropped on your head? |
| Das Kind beim Namen nennen | [das ˈkɪnt baɪ̯m ˈnaːmən ˈnɛnən] | To call the child by its name | To call a spade a spade |
| Mit Kind und Kegel | [[mɪt ˌkɪnt⁀ʊn(t) ˈkeːɡl̩]] | With child and cone | With the whole family (“cone” being an old term for an extramarital child) |
| Liebkind | [ˈliːpˌkɪnt] | Lovelychild | Everybody’s darling (especially Austrian) |
| Das Kind mit dem Bade ausschütten | [das kɪnt mɪt deːm ˈbaːdə ˈaʊ̯sʃʏtn̩] | To throw the child out with the bathwater | To take far too drastic measures |
| Das Kind ist in den Brunnen gefallen | [das kɪnt ɪst ɪn de:n ˈbʁʊnən ɡəˈfalən] | The child has fallen into the well | It’s too late |
| Andere Mütter haben auch schöne Söhne / Töchter | [ˈandəʁə ˈmʏtɐ ˈhaːbn̩ aʊ̯x ˈʃøːnə ˈzøːnə / ˈtœçtɐ] | Other mothers have pretty sons / daughters, too | Don’t focus on this one person as your love interest |
Games to learn how to talk about family in German
Practice German with this Online Game:
| in German | in English | S |
|---|---|---|
| Mutter | Mother | |
| Mama | Mom | |
| Mami | Mommy | |
| Vater | Father | |
| Papa | Dad | |
| Papi, Paps | Pop | |
| Eltern | Parents | |
| Geschwister | Siblings | |
| Bruder | Brother | |
| Schwester | Sister | |
| Sohn | Son | |
| Tochter | Daughter | |
| (Ehe-)frau | Wife | |
| (Ehe-)mann | Husband | |
| Großmutter | Grandmother | |
| Oma | Grandma | |
| Großvater | Grandfather | |
| Opa | Grandpa | |
| Großeltern | Grandparents | |
| Cousine | Female cousin | |
| Cousin | Male cousin | |
| Tante | Aunt | |
| Onkel | Uncle | |
| Nichte | Niece | |
| Neffe | Nephew | |
| Ur-Großeltern | Great-grandparents | |
| Ur-Großmutter | Great-grandmother | |
| Ur-Großvater | Great-grandfather | |
| Urgroßtante | Great-Aunt | |
| Urgroßonkel | Great-Uncle | |
| Ururgroßmutter | Great-great-grandmother | |
| Ururgroßvater | Great-great-grandfather | |
| Stiefmutter | Stepmom | |
| Stiefvater | Stepdad | |
| Stiefschwester | Step-sister | |
| Stiefbruder | Step-brother | |
| Schwiegereltern | Parents-in-law | |
| Schwiegermutter | Mother-in-law | |
| Schwiegervater | Father-in-law | |
| Schwiegertochter | Daughter-in-law | |
| Schwiegersohn | Son-in-law | |
| Adoptiert | Adopted | |
| Leihmutter | Surrogate | |
| Zwillinge | Twins | |
| Drillinge | Triplets | |
| Vierlinge | Quadruplets | |
| Gatte | Male spouse | |
| Gattin | Female spouse | |
| Partner | Male partner | |
| Partnerin | Female partner | |
| Lebenspartner | De facto partner | |
| Verliebt | In love | |
| Verlobt | Engaged | |
| Verheiratet | Married | |
| Getrennt | Separated | |
| Geschieden | Divorced | |
| Witwe | Widow | |
| Pflegemutter | Foster mom | |
| Pflegevater | Foster dad | |
| Pflegekind | Foster child | |
| Patentante | Godmother | |
| Patenonkel | Godfather | |
| Patensohn | Godson | |
| Patentochter | Goddaughter | |
| Baby | Baby | |
| Kleinkind | Toddler | |
| Tween | Tween | |
| Teenager | Teenager | |
| Jugendlicher / Jugendliche | Youth | |
| Erwachsener / Erwachsene | Adult | |
| Verwandter / Verwandte | Relative | |
| Vorfahren | Ancestors | |
| Generation | Generation | |
| Jüngstes Kind | Youngest child | |
| Mittelkind | Middle child | |
| Ältestes Kind | Eldest child | |
| Kernfamilie | Nuclear family | |
| Kleinfamilie | Small family | |
| Patchwork-Familie | Blended family |
With Langlandia, you can:
🗣️ Practice describing your family members in German.
❤️ Learn affectionate expressions for your loved ones (even your cat 🐱).
🎯 Master tricky vocab like Stiefvater vs Ziehvater in a fun, non-boring way.
🌍 Connect emotionally with German culture through everyday words and real-life chats.
Download here!
Cultural considerations when it comes to family in German
Marriages are at a record low in Germany the lowest since World War I.
At the same time, birth rates have been increasing and people still form partnerships and live together. They just tend not to get married.
Maybe Germans are busy enough dealing with the draining bureaucracies of everyday life and don’t want to make things even more complicated by adding the paperwork that comes with marriage.
So they stay in committed relationships without getting married, which is how the beautifully long German word “Lebensabschnittsgefährte” came to be. It’s a commonly used term that literally means “life section companion” and refers to your current partner.
You might not want to use this word as a pet name, since it’s less romantic than “love of my life” and definitely longer than “bae,” but if you think about it, it’s still a positive term.
It carries the idea that even if you don’t spend your entire life with one person, they’re your companion for a specific part of your life and that’s something nice to have and acknowledge.
This is a very realistic, down-to-earth view on partnership you might say it’s a very German one.
