How To Address Family & Relatives In German

Unfortunately, it is sometimes very difficult to remember family names, especially when you have to memorize nineteen names in one go. So, the better option is to address family members by their titles.

Doing this makes things much easier for you. You’ll know exactly who is who in your immediate and extended family, so you won't be confused between a niece and an aunt! When it comes to introducing your family to others, you can do so confidently. Here is how to talk about family in German.

• the family: die Familie (dee fa-mee-lee)
• the parents: die Eltern (dee el-tern)
• [the] mother: [die] Mutter (dee moo-ter)
• [the] father: [der] Vater (der fah-ter)
• [the] stepfather: [der] Stiefvater (der shteef-fah-ter)
• [the] stepmother: [die] Stiefmutter (dee shteef-moo-ter)
• [the] sister: [die] Schwester (dee shves-ter)
• [the] brother: [der] Bruder (der broo-der)
• [the] siblings: [die] Geschwister (dee gesh-vis-ter)
• [the] son: [der] Sohn (der zohn)
• [the] daughter: [die] Tochter (dee tok-ter)
• [the] uncle: [der] Onkel (der ohn-kel)
• [the] aunt: [die] Tante (dee tan-tuh)
• [the] female cousin: [die] Cousine (dee koo-zee-nuh)
• [the] male cousin: [der] Cousin (der koo-zehn)
• [the] grandmother: [die] Großmutter (dee gros-moo-tuh)
• [the] grandfather: [der] Großvater (der gros-fah-tehr)
• [the] twins: [die] Zwillinge (dee tsveel-eeng-uh)
• [the] niece: [die] Nichte (dee nik-tuh)
• [the] nephew: [der] Neffe (der nef-uh)
• [the] grandchild: [das] Enkelkind (das en-kel-kint)
• [the] grandchildren: [die] Enkelkinder (dee en-kel-kin-der)