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Family vocabulary is one of the first things taught in German courses — and for good reason. These words appear in everyday conversation, in German TV shows (especially dramas like Dark with its complex family trees), and whenever you introduce yourself or talk about your life.
Grammar tip
German has separate words for family members based on which parent's side they are on. Der Onkel means uncle but Mutterbruder (mother's brother) or Vaterbruder (father's brother) are also used in more formal contexts. For TV shows like Dark, knowing family vocabulary (Urgroßvater = great-grandfather, Urgroßmutter = great-grandmother) is essential.
| German | English | Level |
|---|---|---|
| die Familie | family | A1 |
| die Mutter | mother | A1 |
| der Vater | father | A1 |
| der Bruder | brother | A1 |
| die Schwester | sister | A1 |
| der Sohn | son | A1 |
| die Tochter | daughter | A1 |
| die Großmutter | grandmother | A1 |
| der Großvater | grandfather | A1 |
| der Onkel | uncle | A1 |
| die Tante | aunt | A1 |
| das Kind | child | A1 |
| der Freund / die Freundin | boyfriend / girlfriend (also: friend) | A1 |
| heiraten | to marry / to get married | A2 |
| die Hochzeit | wedding | A2 |
| der Ehemann | husband | A2 |
| die Ehefrau | wife | A2 |
| der Cousin / die Cousine | male/female cousin | A2 |
| der Neffe | nephew | A2 |
| die Nichte | niece | A2 |
| die Geschwister | siblings | A2 |
| der Zwilling | twin | B1 |
| die Scheidung | divorce | B1 |
| der Schwiegervater | father-in-law | B1 |
| die Schwiegermutter | mother-in-law | B1 |
| der Urgroßvater | great-grandfather | B1 |
| die Urgroßmutter | great-grandmother | B1 |
| der Stiefvater | stepfather | B1 |
| die Stiefmutter | stepmother | B1 |
| verwandt | related (by family) | B2 |
See these words in action
Butterfluent shows German subtitles on real videos — and highlights noun genders in colour as you watch. Masculine words appear in blue, feminine in pink, neuter in green. Click any word to see its translation, article, and grammar explanation instantly. No more forgetting which article goes with which noun.
Der Freund / die Freundin can mean both a friend and a romantic partner, depending on context. To make it clear that someone is a romantic partner, Germans often say mein Freund (my boyfriend — implying exclusive relationship) or simply use context. For clarity, some people add fest (steady): mein fester Freund (my steady boyfriend).
Many popular German shows feature complex family structures. The show Dark, for example, spans multiple generations and requires understanding words like Urgroßvater (great-grandfather), Urgroßmutter (great-grandmother), and verwandt (related). Without this vocabulary, following the family tree plot is significantly harder.