German Family Members Vocabulary
Talking about your family is one of the very first real conversations you'll have in German — and it only takes a manageable list of words to get there. In this lesson, we go through family vocabulary starting from a child's perspective up to the grandparents, then work back down from grandparent to grandchild, finishing with a bonus tip on in-laws.
Immediate Family: Parents, Siblings, Children
die Eltern (parents), die Mutter (mother), der Vater (father), die Geschwister (siblings), der Bruder (brother, plural die BrĂĽder), die Schwester (sister, plural die Schwestern), das Kind (child, plural die Kinder), der Sohn (son), die Tochter (daughter).
Grandparents and Grandchildren
Starting from grandparent and working down: die GroĂźeltern (grandparents), die GroĂźmutter/Oma (grandmother), der GroĂźvater/Opa (grandfather), der Enkel (grandson), die Enkelin (granddaughter), die Enkelkinder (grandchildren).
Bonus: In-Laws
German forms words for in-laws by adding “Schwieger-” to the family word: die Schwiegermutter (mother-in-law), der Schwiegervater (father-in-law), die Schwiegertochter (daughter-in-law), der Schwiegersohn (son-in-law).
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you say “parents” and “siblings” in German?
Die Eltern (parents) and die Geschwister (siblings).
What are the German words for grandmother and grandfather?
Die GroĂźmutter (or Oma) and der GroĂźvater (or Opa).
How do you say “grandson” and “granddaughter” in German?
Der Enkel (grandson) and die Enkelin (granddaughter).
How does German form words for in-laws?
By adding “Schwieger-” to the family word, e.g. die Schwiegermutter (mother-in-law) or der Schwiegersohn (son-in-law).
What's the plural of “der Bruder” (brother)?
Die BrĂĽder, with an umlaut added to the stem vowel.
Ready to talk about your own family and much more in German? Start with our A1 German course.
