Learning German family vocabulary (Familienvokabular) is one of the best starting points for beginners. These words come up constantly — in introductions, small talk, and everyday conversations. Every family noun has a fixed grammatical gender — der, die, or das — which must be learned together with the word.
⚠️ Critical Note:
"das Mädchen" takes the neuter article das — not die — despite referring to a girl. The suffix "-chen" always forces a neuter gender.
| German | English |
|---|---|
| die Familie | the family |
| der Vater | the father |
| die Mutter | the mother |
| der Bruder | the brother |
| die Schwester | the sister |
| die Geschwister | the siblings (plural) |
| die Eltern | the parents (plural) |
| die OMA / der OPA | grandma / grandpa |
| das Mädchen | the girl (⚠️ NEUTER) |
| der Junge | the boy |
| der Sohn / die Tochter | the son / daughter |
| die Ehefrau / der Ehemann | wife / husband (formal) |
| Vocabulary | German Example | English |
|---|---|---|
| die Familie | Die Familie wohnt in Berlin. | The family lives in Berlin. |
| die Geschwister | Meine Geschwister sind sehr lustig. | My siblings are very funny. |
| das Mädchen | Das Mädchen spielt mit seiner Schwester. | The girl plays with her sister. |
| der Onkel | Der Onkel kommt uns am Wochenende besuchen. | The uncle is visiting us this weekend. |
Stop memorizing word lists in isolation. Join our interactive classes and start building real conversations with expert guidance.
Enroll in a Class Now❌ Die Mädchen ist nett.
✅ Das Mädchen ist nett.
There is no "mein Geschwister". Use "Bruder" or "Schwester" for singular.
"Frau" is informal/woman. "Ehefrau" is the legal, formal term for wife.
"Der Bruder" and "die Schwester". Together, they are "die Geschwister".
Grammar over Biology. The suffix "-chen" always makes a noun neuter in German.