essay about family in german language

Family in German: 30+ Phrases to Talk About Family in German

Imagine this scenario: You’ve just met someone new, and you want to introduce your family to them. But you don’t know the words in German to talk about your family members. This can make the situation quite awkward and complicated. Don’t worry, though – we’ve got you covered!

Spring German , a project I co-founded, made a great video on how you can speak about your family in German:

In this blog post, we’ll explore essential German vocabulary and phrases to help you talk about your family in German like a native speaker.

1. Learn German phrases about your immediate family in German: Die Familie

When learning a new language like German, one of the first things you’ll need to know is how to talk about your immediate family.

This includes words like “mother,” “father,” “parents,” “siblings,” “brother,” “sister,” “son,” and “daughter.” Knowing these basic German family words will help you get started on your language learning journey.

These words are essential for introducing your immediate family members and talking about your nuclear family in German. Of course, learning the pronunciation of these words is just as important as knowing their meaning, so practice German pronunciation!

2. Talk about extended German family: Oma & Opa

Once you’ve mastered the immediate family vocabulary, it’s time to extend your knowledge to include extended family members.

This is where you’ll learn words like “grandmother,” “grandfather,” “aunt,” “uncle,” and “cousin.”

These terms are important for discussing your larger family tree and family history in German.

Why learn these new words? Well, they come in handy when you’re discussing family gatherings, traditions and heritage. It’s time to share your family stories with your new friends!

3. When someone new comes to family in German: Die Schwiegereltern

Introducing new people to your family can be a huge event. We all know the feeling of having the first interaction with in-laws and stepparents.

In German, there are specific terms for these family members that you’ll want to know. Familiarize yourself with words like “mother-in-law,” “father-in-law,” “son-in-law,” “daughter-in-law,” “stepmother,” and “stepfather” to make communication smooth, even in the most nerve-wracking situations.

Here’s how this could be used in a real-life scenario:

Sarah: Ich bin so aufgeregt, deine Familie heute kennenzulernen! Wie heißen nochmal deine Schwiegereltern? [I’m so excited to meet your family today! What are your in-laws’ names again?] Michael: Meine Schwiegermutter heißt Greta, und mein Schwiegervater ist Walter. [My mother-in-law is named Greta, and my father-in-law is Walter.] Michael: Meine Schwiegermutter wird sehr erfreut sein , dass du die richtigen Begriffe auf Deutsch kennst. Das zeigt Respekt für unsere Familientradition. [My mother-in-law will be very pleased that you know the correct terms in German. It shows respect for our family tradition.] Sarah: Ich habe hart daran gearbeitet, die Verwandtschaftsbezeichnungen zu lernen. Eine glückliche Schwiegermutter ist mir sehr wichtig! [I’ve worked hard to learn the family relationship terms. Having a happy mother-in-law is very important to me!]

4. Verbs and expressions to talk about family in German

In addition to nouns, it’s essential to learn verbs and expressions that will allow you to talk about your family in more detail. These phrases will help you describe relationships, discuss family dynamics, and share anecdotes about your loved ones.

These phrases will help you communicate more effectively about your family in German. They’ll allow you to share personal stories, describe relationships, and express your feelings towards your loved ones.

Let’s take a look at how you can use these expressions in a dialogue:

Anna: Ich habe zwei Brüder. [I have two brothers.] Meine Eltern sind geschieden. [My parents are divorced.] Lena: Oh, das tut mir leid zu hören. Aber wenigstens seid ihr eine große Familie. [Oh, I’m sorry to hear that. But at least you are a big family.] Anna: Ja, genau. Meine Cousine ist auch verheiratet und meine Tante hat drei Kinder. [Yes, exactly. My cousin is also married and my aunt has three children.] Wir sind sehr eng miteinander verbunden. [We are very close to each other.] Lena: Das klingt wunderbar! Mein Opa lebt auf dem Land, daher sehen wir ihn nicht so oft. [That sounds wonderful! My grandfather lives in the countryside, so we don’t see him as often.] Anna: Ja, Familie ist einfach das Wichtigste. Meine Familie ist meine Stärke. [Yes, family is simply the most important thing. My family is my strength.]

5. Good-to-know family phrases in German – Practice Worksheet

Fill in the blanks with the correct German vocabulary based on the context provided.

This isn’t everything we have to offer: click the button to request access to our Full Practice Worksheet Library!

6. Learn how to talk about family history with Conversation Based Chunking

Learning to talk about family in German goes beyond just memorizing vocabulary lists. To master this important part of any language, it’s important to use effective learning techniques like Conversation Based Chunking method.

Conversation Based Chunking involves learning phrases and expressions in their full conversational context, rather than just studying isolated words. This mimics how we naturally learn a language from a young age – by hearing and repeating full expressions used in real-life situations.

When learning to discuss family in German, repeat the common phrases out loud, visualize the family situations they describe, and use them in practice conversations.

As you build up a mental database of these conversational chunks related to family, you’ll start putting them together more fluidly. Talking about your extended family, in-laws, and family histories in German will feel more natural over time.

I have one more tip for you: Don’t be afraid to make mistakes – that’s all part of the language learning process!

Sign up now and get the German Conversation Based Chunking Guide in your inbox!

Lukas is the founder of Effortless Conversations and the creator of the Conversation Based Chunking™ method for learning languages. He's a linguist and wrote a popular book about learning languages through "chunks". He also co-founded the language education company Spring Languages, which creates online language courses and YouTube content.

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Talking about – The Family – in German

Discussing your family or about the family, die Familie (dee fâ-mee-lee-e) is a great way to get to know someone. Some people may even feel prompted to show their photos of family members. However, talking at great length about little Gretchen and Hansi, Jr. is a far less popular pastime in Germany than in America. It just may have to do with the value Germans place on privacy. At any rate, another reason you’re not likely to fall asleep gazing at endless baby pictures is that the birth rate in Germany is very low.

The Family (die Familie) Annotated English-German Glossary

The glossary is structured so you can easily find the German vocabulary you’re looking for. It’s in alphabetical order based on the English words and the German includes the necessary gender options and, quite often, the plural (p) so you can use them in various contexts.

The Complete Guide to Learn German Months, Seasons, Days, and Dates

You’ll also find helpful tips throughout the glossary. These annotations can clue you into special terms and usages for certain German words.

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Learn to talk about your immediate, extended or chosen family in German

Marie Schmoll

More than 40 million Americans claim German ancestry , so many of them feel a little bit German even if they don’t actually live in a German-speaking country . If that’s you and you want to explain in German that your great-great-grandfather came from Germany, we’ve got you covered.

Learning how to refer to family members in German is a great way to get started on learning the German language . These are usually some of the very first words we learned to say in our mother tongue, too. That’s why they’re so simple and easy to pronounce. After all, little German babies are just as new to the language as you are. If they can manage to say “Mom” and “Dad” in German, so can you!

Family in German

The German word for family is “ Familie ” [faˈmiːli̯ə] and the plural is “ Familien ” [faˈmiːli̯ən]. Luckily it’s very similar to the English word: Fah-me-lee-eh(/en).

Slang words include “ deine Alten ” (your old ones) for someone’s parents, but this expression has a negative connotation. So unless you’re joking with a friend, be polite and stick to the official terms when you encounter the following scenarios:

• When meeting your German friend’s or partner’s family
• When making German smalltalk by asking someone how their family has been
• When meeting someone new and asking them basic questions about their family situation in German

Interested in your family history?

Immediate family members in german.

In German, the immediate family is called the “ Kernfamilie ” (nuclear or core family). Learning how to describe it is important for basic conversations. That’s why we’ll teach you crucial words like “Mother”, “Father”, “Brother”, “Sister”, “Daughter” and “Son” in German.

Extended family in German

Of course, most families are bigger than that. You might want to talk about your third cousins and your great great grandmother in German, too.

Family members by marriage - Step and in-laws

In Germany, like in America, too, the inlaws have a worse image than they deserve. Even though most people actually do get along with their in-laws, one German expression in particular reflects on the bad rep they get: “ Jemanden stiefmütterlich behandeln ” (to treat someone stepmotherly) means “to neglect or ignore someone”.

Other family-related terms in German

Family is based on so much more than biology. Here are some important terms you can use to explain and introduce your chosen family including adoption and marriage.

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.

Common conversation

• Question. Hast du Geschwister? (Do you have siblings?)
• Answer. Ja, ich habe einen großen Bruder und zwei kleine Schwestern. (Yes, I have a big brother and two little sisters.)
• Question. Hast du eine große Familie? (Do you have a big family?)
• Answer. Meine Familie besteht aus meinem Papa, meiner Stiefmama, meinem Bruder Bruno und meiner Katze Fräulein Miez . (My family consists of my dad, my stepmom, my brother Bruno and my cat Fräulein Miez).
• Question. Leben deine Eltern in der Nähe? (Do your parents live close by?)
• Answer. Nein, meine Eltern leben beide in Hamburg und ich lebe in Frankfurt. (No, my parents both live in Hamburg and I live in Frankfurt.)

An easy follow-up question is to ask their sibling’s age (or their puppy’s!). Remember pets absolutely are a part of the family. So don’t forget to incorporate them in the conversation. If you need help remembering what to call your pet in German, refer to our fun guides on animals and birds in German .

• Question. Ist deine Schwester älter oder jünger als du? (Is your sister older or younger than you?)
• Answer. Meine Schwester ist zwei Jahre jünger als ich . (My sister is two years younger than me.)
• Question. Wie alt sind deine Geschwister? (How old are your siblings?)
• Answer. Mein kleiner Bruder ist erst 10. Er geht noch zur Schule. Mein anderer Bruder studiert . (My little brother is only 10. He is still in school. My other brother is in college).
• Question. Wie alt sind deine Haustiere? (How old are your pets?)
• Answer. Mein Welpe ist erst ein Jahr alt, und mein Papagei ist zwei. (My puppy is only one year old, and my parrot is two.)

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 smalltalk.

• Meine Mutter und mein Vater haben braune Augen, wie ich, aber meine Schwester hat blaue Augen. (My mother and father have brown eyes, like me, but my sister has blue eyes.)
• Ich hab die schwarzen Locken von meinem Vater. Meine Mutter hat rote Haare. (I got my curly black hair from my dad. My mother has red hair.)
• Ich bin mit einem Zwilling verheiratet. (I’m married to a twin.)
• Ich bin adoptiert. (I’m adopted.)
• Ich telefoniere einmal im Monat mit meinen Eltern. (I call my parents once a month.)
• Ich bin ein Katzenmensch, aber mein Freund ist eher ein Hundemensch . (I’m a cat person but my boyfriend is more of a dog person.)

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, as so many other quirky German expressions , creates a wonderful picture - like you could just grab the child by the head and the feet and start pulling them until they’re tall.

Also, having custody over a child is “the right to worry about them” ( Sorgerecht ) and the big toe is called the “Big uncle” in German ( Großer Onkel ).

Videos to learn how to talk about family in German

Kinderlieder - die hai-familie.

Have you always wanted to listen to the Baby Shark Song in German? Absolutely not?

Well, give it a try anyway because you know how effectively it will get stuck in your head. So when the lyrics are in German, you have no other choice but to learn them, including all the important family related words like “Mama”, “Papa”, “Oma” and “Opa”.

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 to not get married.

Maybe Germans are busy enough with the draining bureaucracies of everyday life and don’t want to make their lives even more complicated by adding the paperwork that comes with getting married to their list.

So they stay in committed relationships without getting married, which is how the beautifully long German word “ Lebensabschnittsgefährte ” came to be. A commonly used term, it literally translates to “life section companion” and refers to your current partner.

You may not want to use the word as a pet name, since it’s less romantic than “love of my life” and certainly longer than “bae” but if you think about it, it’s still a positive term.

It entails the idea that even if you may not spend your entire life with one person, they’re your companion for a specific time of your life and that’s very nice to have and acknowledge.

This is a very realistic, down-to-earth view on partnership - you might say a very German one.

Family structures hold societies together and they’re just as important in Germany as they are everywhere else. Yet, sometimes family matters can be a bit of a headache. So try to take an uncomplicated German approach to all things family:

If a relationship ever doesn’t work out, just thank your Lebensabschnittsgefährten that they were there for you during a special time in your life. Then remember that other mothers have pretty sons or daughters, too - and when it comes to raising kids, throw out all the parenting books. Just pull them until they’re tall enough to manage on their own.

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Family in Germany

What is a typical family in your country like? In Germany, it consists of two parents and one or two children. Both parents work, with one parent, usually the mother, working only part-time. Grandparents or other family members don't usually live in the same building, and often live in a different city. Factors like professional mobility have led to the core family – that is, parents and their school-aged children – being the most common group to share a home.

In most families, the parents are married. But there are also lots of single parents, parents living with a partner, or blended families.

There are statistically around 1.5 births for every woman of childbearing age between 15 and 49 in Germany. Lots of children grow up without siblings. When do young people start planning a family in your country? Here in Germany, people often wait for quite a while because they want to establish themselves professionally and financially first. Women start having children at an average age of 31 in Germany.

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How to talk about family in german.

Family is a huge part of, really, every culture in the world. But if you’re learning to talk about family in German, you might need to learn some vocabulary terms that account for some of the diverse family models you’ll encounter in Germany. Though the average German family might involve a married couple with one or two kids, many couples have children out of wedlock, or raise kids as single parents, or have extended families living under one roof. It’s also becoming more common for same-sex couples to raise children together.

Here is a list of essential vocabulary you’ll need to talk about family in German in all of its iterations. To hear how each word is voiced by a native speaker, just press the play button.

Essential Vocab For Family In German

the family —  die Familie

the relatives —  die Verwandten

the extended family —  die entfernten Verwandten

the ancestor —  der Vorfahr

the descendant —  der Nachkomme

the parents —  die Eltern

the mother —  die Mutter

the father —  der Vater

the children —  die Kinder

the daughter —  die Tochter

the son —  der Sohn

the siblings —  die Geschwister

the brother —  der Bruder

the sister —  die Schwester

the stepchild —  das Stiefkind

the half-brother —  der Halbbruder

the foster parents —  die Pflegeeltern

the guardian —  der Vormund

the grandmother —  die Großmutter

the grandfather —  der Großvater

the grandson —  der Enkel

the granddaughter —  die Enkelin

the nephew —  der Neffe

the niece —  die Nichte

the aunt —  die Tante

the uncle —  der Onkel

the cousin —  der Cousin (masc.) /  die Cousine (fem.)

the parents-in-law —  die Schwiegereltern

the great-grandparents —  die Urgroßeltern

the second cousin —  der Cousin zweiten Grades

• Learn German
• German phrases
• Learn German Grammar
• German vocabulary

How to describe your family in German

Family in German

In any language, discussing your family is a common and valuable way to connect with others and share about your life. In German, this is no different. Whether you’re traveling, making new friends, or just learning the language, being able to talk about your family in German can be a meaningful and practical skill. In this lesson, we will provide you with phrases and sentences to help you describing your family in German.

Use the following phrases to describe your family in German :

• Ich habe eine große Familie. – I have a big family.
• Ich bin verheiratet. – I am married.
• Mein Ehemann heißt Max. – My husband’s name is Max.
• Meine Ehefrau heißt Anna. – My wife’s name is Anna.
• Wir haben zwei Kinder. – We have two children.
• Mein Sohn heißt Tom. – My son’s name is Tom.
• Meine Tochter heißt Emma. – My daughter’s name is Emma.
• Meine Eltern leben in Berlin. – My parents live in Berlin.
• Ich habe einen Bruder und eine Schwester. – I have one brother and one sister.
• Mein Bruder ist älter als ich. – My brother is older than I am.
• Meine Schwester ist jünger als ich. – My sister is younger than I am.
• Meine Großeltern sind bereits in Rente. – My grandparents are already retired.
• Mein Opa ist 75 Jahre alt. – My grandpa is 75 years old.
• Wir verbringen viel Zeit miteinander. – We spend a lot of time together.
• Wir feiern gerne Geburtstage zusammen. – We like to celebrate birthdays together.
• Mein Vater ist Ingenieur. – My father is an engineer.
• Meine Mutter arbeitet als Lehrerin. – My mother works as a teacher.
• Mein Onkel wohnt in München. – My uncle lives in Munich.
• Meine Tante ist Ärztin. – My aunt is a doctor.
• Mein Cousin ist Student. – My cousin is a student.
• Meine Cousine ist Anwältin. – My cousin is a lawyer.
• Unsere Familie ist sehr eng miteinander verbunden. – Our family is very close-knit.
• Meine Eltern sind seit 25 Jahren verheiratet. – My parents have been married for 25 years.
• Wir haben einen Hund namens Rocky. – We have a dog named Rocky.
• Meine Schwester ist die Jüngste in der Familie. – My sister is the youngest in the family.
• Unsere Familie ist der wichtigste Teil unseres Lebens. – Our family is the most important part of our lives.

Read more:  Learn German easily – Vocabulary about (Health)

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How to talk about family in German

by Anne Walther

Published on February 16, 2023 / Updated on January 3, 2024

Making small talk is essential for learning a new language and integrating into a new country. And there’s no better way to get to know others and understand a country’s culture than by talking about family. Talking about your family in German will not only help you practice your language skills. It will also teach you about an important aspect of German culture . 

From immediate relatives to step siblings and everything in between, there are many German words to describe different familial relations. But don’t worry — we have you covered! With the lists below, you can get a head start on learning and memorizing the most important German vocabulary about family.

Immediate family

Extended family, other family or household members, marital status, other words to talk about family, learn languages at your pace.

Immediate family members include the people you’re immediately related to — for example, your parents and siblings. Unlike in some other cultures, Germans typically only live together with their immediate family, rather than with a large group of extended family members.

Of course, your family can also include extended family, such as your grandparents or in-laws. German naturally has words for these relations, as well. Notice that, as with parents, there are both formal and informal names for grandparents. 

The definition of “family” continues to expand, in Germany as well as in other cultures. With this in mind, there may be other people who are considered family in German, such as step-siblings or life partners. 

To help with your memorization, notice that many of these words share a similar prefix. Learning these common prefixes can come in handy whether you’re describing a life partner (prefix: Lebens- ) or a step relation (prefix: Stief- ). 

Especially when applying for a visa, changing tax classes or signing up for social benefits, you may need to specify your marital status. You may also need to describe which members of your family live in your household. Here’s a list of some key nouns and adjectives to get you started. 

Now that you can name all the family members and describe their various relations, it may help to learn some typical questions to ask about the family. The following questions and answers can get you a long way in making conversation.

In times of test, family is best

When you’re moving or even just traveling abroad, you may find yourself missing your family a lot. In moments like these, sharing memories about your loved ones with new friends can help you cope. It doesn’t hurt that it also helps with practicing German. Whether you’re talking about immediate or extended family, you’ll have plenty to speak about with these vocabulary lists. Study up, and you’ll be fluent in German in no time!

Anne Walther

Anne is a German freelance writer and communication consultant. In addition to her job, she is founder and coach of the Dutch non-for-profit organization CLUB Coaching. Due to her work, she resides in both Germany and the Netherlands. Whenever her time is not occupied with communication in all its forms, she spends time with her six pets, gardening or being creative with fashion and design. You can follow her on LinkedIn .

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How to Speak About the Family in German

• History & Culture
• Pronunciation & Conversation

Learning how to ask about someone's name or inquire about the family in German is a great way to get to know people. Even if you just want to learn to make small talk, these kinds of questions will come up in most conversations. It's important to remember that rules for addressing people in German tend to be stricter than in many other cultures, so learning the proper rules will help prevent you from being unintentionally rude. Below are some common questions and answers in German and English. 

Die Familie  •  The Family Continued

YOU: du - Sie

As you study the vocabulary for this lesson, pay attention to the difference between asking a formal ( Sie ) and a familiar ( du / ihr ) question. German-speakers tend to be much more formal than English-speakers. While Americans, in particular, may use first names with people they have just met or only know casually, German-speakers do not.

When a German-speaker is asked his or her name, the reply will be the last or family name, not the first name. The more formal question,  Wie ist Ihr Name? , as well as the standard  Wie heißen Sie? , should be understood as "what is your LAST name?"

Naturally, within the family and among good friends, the familiar "you" pronouns  du  and  ihr  are used, and people are on a first-name basis. But when in doubt, you should always err on the side of being too formal, rather than too familiar. 

For more about this important cultural difference, see this article:  You and thou,  Sie und du . The article includes a self-scoring quiz on the use of  Sie und du .

Kleine Familien

Families in German-speaking countries tend to be small, with only one or two children (or no children). The birthrate in Austria, Germany, and Switzerland is lower than in many modern industrialized nations, with fewer births than deaths, i.e., less than zero population growth.

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Learn to Say “Father” in German and More

Imagine that you’re traveling to good old Germany , and you want the real experience (not just staying in a hotel or hostel like everyone else). Well, this is fair enough, and we definitely encourage going for the full Germany experience. But first, you’ll need to know some basic family terms, like how to say “father” in German.

Why is it so important to know the words for family members in German? Imagine the following situation:

You arrive at your freshly booked Airbnb, and your host welcomes you with a nice dinner. But there’s one hitch: you find yourself eating with his parents, some friends, his cousin, and his grandmother, too. Your host starts to introduce everyone, pointing to each person as he states their name:

Ich möchte dich meinen Eltern vorstellen. Das sind mein Papa und meine Mutter. Und dort sitzt meine Großmutter und mein Cousin.

Despite your host’s best efforts to familiarize you with his family, you actually find yourself more confused about who’s who. Oh no!

While learning things like family member terms in German first-hand is always a great idea, you may be more comfortable studying up on this before your trip. After all, when it comes to family in German, words like the one in our example are going to come up all the time, so you should prepare using German lessons about family like this one!

GermanPod101 has prepared a guide just for you, covering vocabulary terms for any family member you may find yourself introduced to! Going through this guide, you can work on your language skills beforehand, so that you can make the most of your first-hand learning experiences in Germany. So let’s get started!

Table of Contents

• Family in German – Die Familie
• List of Closest Family Members + Basic Sentence Patterns
• More Family and Endearment Terms
• How to Talk about Family
• Cultural Insights in a German Family
• How GermanPod101 Can Help You Learn about Family in German

1. Family in German – Die Familie

Familie is the German word for “family.” As you can see, the word is more similar to English than you thought. Might this be because German families aren’t so different from those in the U.S. or other countries? Let’s take a look.

When you look over the demographics of Germany , you can clearly see that we are a dying nation. This means that every year, more people die than are being born, and our average age is getting older and older from year to year. (This is, of course, not exclusive to Germany, and is also happening in other first-world countries.)

I want to give you a short example of the above statistics using my family history. My grandmother was one of six children in her family at the end of the Second World War, and this was considered a normal-sized family. Now, my mom and dad are both one of three children. And today, there’s just me and my sister. From each of my uncles and aunties, I have between zero and three cousins.

Do you see what I mean? German families have become much smaller over the last seventy-eighty years. Today, people tend to think first about their lives and careers, and secondly about kids and family.

Families are the most important reference point for a child until the end of his or her time in college. But for many people, the end of college also represents a diminishing significance for their parents’ home. Keep in mind that I don’t want to say German kids don’t love their parents. Of course they do.

The family is, and will always be, important in Germany, so learn about it and adapt to it!

2. List of Closest Family Members + Basic Sentence Patterns

1- General Terms for German Immediate Family

We created an overview of the most important family in German vocabulary words, such as your siblings, parents, and grandparents. The German is on the left, and the English equivalent is on the right.

To help you out with some basic words and the pronunciation for family member terms, we created a free lesson in our free-of-charge course. With enough practice, you’ll be able to talk about your parents and siblings in German like it’s nothing!

2- Talking about Family Members

There are usually three situations when talking about family:

• You’re trying to talk about your family
• You’re talking about someone else’s family members
• You’re asking someone about their family

That means you need to describe who’s family you’re talking or inquiring about. This is done with possessives.

Similar to “my,” “yours,” “his” in English, in Germany we use meine, deine , and seine . To prepare you for the upcoming challenges associated with each of the situations outlined above, we’ve provided you with some basic questions and answers.

Take a close look at how we used the possessive pronouns. They always have to be adapted to the person you’re talking about.

3. More Family and Endearment Terms

1- German Extended Family

Everybody has family members outside of their immediate family. Below, we give you some family member terms that you’ll face every day while living with a German family. We won’t go into too much detail, as the half-sister of your siblings’ aunt isn’t really interesting anymore.

This doesn’t seem too hard to understand, does it? With all of the terms we’ve gone over so far, you’re almost ready to talk about your family in various contexts. There are some more things we’ll cover in the next chapters, but what we have so far are the closest family members.

2- Endearment Terms

Families are cute, and you can always hear little grandsons or granddaughters calling their grandparents “granny” or “grandpa.” Those are just a couple examples of so-called endearment terms , and of course we have them in Germany as well.

We’ll show you two quick ways to create endearment terms, and give you some examples. Before we go on, we want to let you know that this doesn’t work with all family members the same way.

1. Adding an i

The first way to create endearment terms in Germany is to cut the last letter(s) of the term, and replace it with the letter i . It’s no mistake that we mentioned it can be the last letter or letters . When the term ends with a vowel, you replace only the last letter. In any other case, you need to replace the last two letters.

Here are some examples:

Mama -> Mami “mother” -> “mom/mommy”

Mutter -> Mutti “mother” -> “mom”

Papa -> Papi “father” -> “daddy”

Vater -> Vati “father” -> “dad”

Opa -> Opi “grandmother” -> “granny”

Oma -> Omi “grandfather” -> “grandpa”

But there are also examples where it doesn’t work, such as:

Onkel -> Onki Tante -> Tanti Großmutter -> Großmutti (theoretically this works, but you’re never going to use this)

2. Adding chen to the end of the word

This might be the better-known form for any German learner. This one is a bit trickier and has some special rules. The basic rule is that you just add chen after each term. But be aware that when doing this, in some cases, if the word ends with a vowel, you have to cut this vowel before adding the chen . Or, if the word has a vowel in-between, you change it to ü , ö , or ä (instead of u, o, a).

Good examples are:

Großmutter -> Großmütterchen (grandmother -> grandma) Onkel -> Onkelchen Tante -> Tantchen (aunt -> auntie) Cousine -> Cousinchen

As you can see, sometimes there’s not even a proper English translation for the endearment term you can create in German. The good thing about this way of creating endearment terms is that you can use it with almost everything, and you’re not limited to people or family members. Take a look at these examples:

Bierchen from the word Bier (beer) Tischchen from the word Tisch (table) Tässchen from the word Tasse (cup)

4. How to Talk about Family

It’s quite easy to introduce your family to another person in German. Let’s imagine ourselves sitting around a large table, where all the family is eating together, and a friend of yours arrives for the first time. You both stand in front of the table.

5. Cultural Insights in a German Family

The family is, for most Germans, one of the fundamental aspects of their lives. The family is an important part of every German . Children usually grow up close to their grandparents (who sometimes take care of their grandchildren when the parents are at work). Further, trust is a big thing for German families. But even with this strong bond, Germans are moving out of their parents’ home quite early to study, work, and become financially independent.

We’ve already mentioned that most German families are fairly small compared to those in other countries. Family size strongly depends on where you live, though. For instance, in the countryside, it’s normal for multiple generations to live on a big farm together, or even more than one family from one generation.

So it can be possible to find houses with up to ten people in the more rural areas, but even there, everybody has their own space and flat. You can live there with your parents, your grandparents, and maybe even your uncle’s family.

In the city, the situation is typically different, and families don’t live together. Everybody has their own flat or house, and don’t see each other in daily life.

Traditionally, the man is the head of the family. But let’s face it: this isn’t really how it works anymore. Women enjoy the same rights as men , and all decisions are made as a couple, or even among the entire family including children.

In the old days, it was common for people to get married after living together for a while. Now, you can find couples that stay together their whole lives and never get married. But trends are now coming back to the traditional way.

For some more information about German culture , we’ve prepared another lesson for you.

6. How GermanPod101 Can Help You Learn about Family in German

We hope that you got some helpful insight from our article about families in Germany, such as how to talk about family members. You now know a little bit about the typical family situation in Germany today, and how people are organizing their daily lives.

You should be able to talk about your immediate and extended family, introduce them to others, and talk to someone about them.

If you want to really boost your German skills, then we recommend our private teacher program which focuses on your personal goals based on your current level.

But we won’t leave you without making a quick gift to you. We have free-of-charge courses on GermanPod101.com for learners of every level:

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Family in Germany: Exploring 12 Dominant Aspects

Categories Culture , European Culture , German Culture

Here we are with 12 aspects of German family life that shape the heart of familial bonds in this interesting country. Like an engaging story waiting to be told, the details of German family dynamics reveal themselves, composing a tale of tradition, flexibility, and adaptation. From the cherished customs of traditional family values to the diverse family models, each aspect reveals a new layer of the German family experience.

Join us as we set out on a quest to the heart of German households, where cultural influences, technological advancements, and societal shifts converge to create an attractive page of familial life. Let’s explore the hidden aspects of German families and discover the depth of what truly makes these households unique.

1. Traditional Family Values

2. household composition, 3. cultural emphasis on trust and independence, 4. trends in family formation, 5. emergence of diverse family models, 6. government support for families, 7. challenges and considerations, 8. gender roles and family responsibilities, 9. cultural influences on family formation, 10. technological advancements and family communication, 11. challenges of balancing work and family life, 12. environmental endurance and family lifestyles, key takings about german family.

Family plays a central role in German society, Similar to the cornerstone of a castle, with its significance deeply rooted in personal relationships and consistent mutual support. Like the complex lines of a carpet, traditional family values have delicately twined the fabric of German culture, nourishing the bonds within the nuclear family; comprising parents and their children; while the extended family often grows in its own orbit.

Yet, among the winds of change and the tides of modernity, the landscape of familial dynamics is undergoing a development. As society accepts new norms and perspectives, German families find themselves moving to unknown waters, balancing cherished traditions with the currents of progress.

See Also German Parenting

In Germany, the composition of households reflects a trend towards smaller, nuclear family units as the predominant arrangement. Typically, these households consist of parents and their children under the age of 18, representing the traditional familial structure. However, societal shifts and evolving norms are opening in a variety of living arrangements.

The phenomenon of urbanization has significantly impacted household composition, with a notable increase in families opting for apartment living, particularly in dynamic cities such as Berlin, Hamburg, Bremen, and Saxony. This shift reinforces the changing dynamics of family life in Germany, as individuals adapt to the demands of modern urban environments while still cherishing the core values of familial connection and support.

In Germany, cultural values place a significant emphasis on developing mutual trust and support within familial bonds. Parents are entrusted with the responsibility of cherishing their children’s dreams and ambitions while simultaneously encouraging them to develop independence .

This cultural ethos is exemplified by the common practice of young adults leaving the parental home to pursue higher education or to establish themselves financially. It highlights the belief that independence is a vital component of personal growth and development, and parents play a crucial role in implanting this value in their children.

In recent years, a notable trend has emerged in German family dynamics, characterized by a delay in family formation. Influenced by pursuits of higher education and career advancement, couples are increasingly opting to postpone starting families until the later stages of their lives. This delay is particularly evident in the average age of parents at the birth of their first child, with mothers typically approaching the age of 30 and fathers around 35.

Consequently, this shift has contributed to a decline in the average number of children per family, with a significant proportion now opting to have only one child. This trend highlights the evolving priorities and lifestyle choices of modern German families, reflecting a desire for financial stability, personal fulfillment, and careful planning before initiating the quest for parenthood.

In Germany, the fabric of family life is undergoing an innovative shift marked by an increasing diversity of family models. While the conventional image of the married couple with children still holds authority, there’s an apparent acceptance of alternative configurations. Unmarried cohabitation, single parenthood, and relationships within the LGBTQI+ community are steadily gaining prominence, mirroring the evolving societal attitudes toward family dynamics.

This acceptance of diverse family structures reflects a broader recognition of the multifaceted nature of human relationships and the need for equality in defining what constitutes a family. It signals a departure from traditional norms and confirms a progressive societal ethos that celebrates the multitude of ways in which individuals choose to form and encourage familial bonds.

Government support for families in Germany is an indispensable pillar in bolstering family welfare and stability. Through a multifaceted approach, the state provides essential aids such as child allowance, parental allowance, tax incentives, and subsidies tailored to pregnant women and low-income families. These initiatives are precisely designed to alleviate financial strains and foster an environment conducive to family formation and growth.

Furthermore, the provision of free school education serves as a cornerstone in nourishing the well-being of families from diverse socioeconomic backgrounds, ensuring equal opportunities for all children to access quality education regardless of their financial circumstances. Collectively, these measures reinforce the government’s dedication to encouraging strong, flexible families and promoting social cohesion within German society.

While state support attempts to moderate financial burdens for families, single parents often encounter a distinct set of challenges that heighten their risk of poverty, especially when the other parent fails to fulfill their obligations in providing child support. This reality highlights the necessity of continuous efforts in family policy to safeguard the prosperity of all family structures within Germany.

Policymakers must address the specific needs and vulnerabilities of single-parent households through targeted interventions aimed at enhancing financial stability, access to education and employment opportunities, and social support networks. By recognizing and actively addressing these challenges, policymakers can work towards creating a more inclusive and supportive environment for single parents and their children, ultimately fostering greater social equality and cohesion within the broader framework of family policy.

Traditional gender roles within German households are experiencing a significant transformation, with a notable shift towards more egalitarian dynamics. Historically, men were predominantly viewed as the primary breadwinners, while women were expected to manage household responsibilities.

However, in contemporary families, there is a growing trend towards a more equitable distribution of duties between partners. This evolution reflects broader societal changes and a collective aspiration for greater work-life balance. Increasingly, both men and women are actively participating in both domestic and professional spheres, challenging traditional stereotypes and accepting a more collaborative approach to family life. This shift not only promotes gender equality but also advances healthier and more fulfilling relationships within households.

Cultural influences have a significant impact on family formation dynamics in Germany, where traditional values like marriage and parenthood persist alongside the emergence of increasingly diverse family models. While these traditional values continue to hold significance, modern families reflect a spectrum of structures and arrangements.

The rich texture of cultural backgrounds, religious beliefs, and regional customs all contribute to the diverse landscape of family life throughout the country. These influences shape not only the structures of families but also their dynamics, values, and priorities, highlighting the complexity and adaptability of family formation in contemporary German society.

See Also 5 Steps in German Relationships

Technological advancements have introduced in a innovative era in the domain of family communication within Germany. The advent of digital platforms, ranging from instant messaging to video calls, has fundamentally altered the way family members connect and interact with one another.

These technological tools enable integrated communication and coordination across distances, promoting closer bonds and facilitating the sharing of experiences and updates. However, alongside these benefits come concerns about excessive screen time and digital dependency, prompting a growing recognition of the importance of maintaining a balanced approach to technology usage within households.

As families direct the opportunities and challenges presented by technology, striking a healthy balance between digital connectivity and real-world interactions becomes increasingly imperative in preserving the happiness and cohesion of familial relationships.

The challenge of balancing work commitments with family responsibilities is a pervasive issue faced by numerous German families. While policies such as parental leave and flexible work arrangements have been implemented to reduce some of these pressures and promote a healthier work-life balance, many parents still find themselves directing the complexities of managing competing demands on their time and energy.

Juggling career aspirations with the desire to encourage and care for their families can often lead to feelings of stress, guilt, and exhaustion. Moreover, societal expectations and workplace cultures may incidentally perpetuate the notion that prioritizing family responsibilities could hinder professional success, adding an additional layer of complexity to the balancing act. Thus, despite the existence of supportive policies, the ongoing challenge of harmonizing work and family life persists as a significant issue for parents throughout the country.

Environmental consciousness influences many aspects of family life in Germany. Families prioritize long-lasting practices, such as recycling, energy conservation, and eco-friendly consumption habits. Teaching children about environmental responsibility promotes a sense of responsibility and commitment to preserving the planet for future generations.

These explanations offer engaging insights into the diverse facets of family life in Germany, showing the country’s rich cultural heritage and the dynamic interplay between tradition and modernity within its households.

See Also German Cultural Roots

1. Traditional Family Values: German families cherish deep-rooted traditions, advancing strong bonds and mutual support similar a castle’s cornerstone.

2. Household Composition: Evolving societal norms are reshaping household structures, with urbanization driving a trend towards smaller, more adaptable family units.

3. Cultural Emphasis on Trust and Independence: Cultural values emphasize trust and independence, guiding parents in supporting their children’s autonomy while developing supportive relationships.

4. Trends in Family Formation: Changing priorities and lifestyles lead to a delay in family formation, with couples opting for financial stability and careful planning before accepting parenthood.

5. Emergence of Diverse Family Models: A progressive attitude towards diverse family structures reflects society’s recognition of the multifaceted nature of familial bonds.

6. Government Support for Families: State initiatives, such as child allowance and free education, bolster family welfare and promote social cohesion.

7. Challenges and Considerations: Policymakers strive to address the specific needs of single-parent households, advancing inclusivity and support within the family policy framework.

8. Gender Roles and Family Responsibilities: Evolving gender roles promote equality and collaboration within households, developing healthier and more fulfilling relationships.

9. Cultural Influences on Family Formation: Cultural diversity enriches family dynamics, shaping values, structures, and priorities across German society.

10. Technological Advancements and Family Communication: Technology transforms family communication, emphasizing the need for a balanced approach to digital connectivity.

11. Challenges of Balancing Work and Family Life: Balancing work and family responsibilities remains a significant challenge, highlighting the importance of supportive policies and societal attitudes.

12. Environmental Endurance and Family Lifestyles: Environmental consciousness influences family practices, promoting a sense of responsibility towards sustainability and future generations.

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Family members in German (parents, siblings...)

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You want to describe your family in German, but you are missing the proper vocabulary? Then you should have a look at this lesson! You will not only learn how the family members are called, also I will teach you some ways how to speak about your family.

Lesson outline

• 1. A complete list of family members in German
• 1.1. Parents and children
• 1.2. Grandparents and grandchildren
• 1.3. Uncles, aunts, cousins and nephews
• 1.4. Stepfamily
• 1.5. Family in-law
• 1.6. Relationship-status
• 2. Talking about family in German
• 3. Exercises
• 3.1. Family in German: Vocabulary trainer 2
• 3.2. Family in German: Vocabulary trainer 3
• 3.3. Family in German: Vocabulary trainer 1

A complete list of family members in German

Family is the most important thing in life! In the following lists you will find the most important vocabulary!

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Parents and children, grandparents and grandchildren.

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In the following list you can find some practical examples about how to use the beforehand showed vocabulary.

Family in German: Vocabulary trainer 2

Family in german: vocabulary trainer 3, family in german: vocabulary trainer 1, what our students say.

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24 German Essay Phrases

We need to talk about your German essays.

Essay writing is a skill that you can learn in any language.

All you need is to brush up your vocabulary and follow a few simple strategies, and you’ll be well on your way to writing your first masterpiece.

This post will provide you with a list of useful German words and phrases to include in your next essay, plus the different types of German essays, a few writing strategies and even a sample essay at the end. 

German Essay Phrases

General explaining, ordering facts and ideas, demonstrating contrast, expressing your opinion, summarizing and concluding, what are german essays like, the different types of german essays, how to write an essay in german in 4 steps, 1. write down a list of words , 2. do your research, 3. make an outline using transition words, 4. write directly in german, an example of a german essay, and one more thing....

Download: This blog post is available as a convenient and portable PDF that you can take anywhere. Click here to get a copy. (Download)

Let’s start with the words and phrases themselves. As you’ll see, they’re grouped according to how and when you’ll use them. Let’s start off with some that will help you explain your arguments.

1. Weil (Because)

Daniel muss lernen, weil er morgen einen Test hat.

(Daniel has to study because he has a test tomorrow.)

2. Da (Because)

Daniel muss lernen, da er morgen einen Test hat.

3. Denn (Because)

Daniel muss lernen, denn er hat morgen einen Test.

(Daniel has to study because tomorrow he has a test.)

A quick note: Weil, da and denn are generally interchangeable. Keep in mind though that denn requires a different word order.

4. Damit (In order to; So that)

Lisa lernt viel, damit sie den Test besteht.

(Lisa is studying a lot in order to pass the test.)

5. Um (To; In order to)

Lisa lernt viel, um den Test zu bestehen.

(Lisa is studying a lot to pass the test.)

6. Im Grunde (Basically; Fundamentally)

Im Grunde ist Deutsch keine schwierige Sprache.

(Fundamentally, German is not a difficult language.)

7. Eigentlich (Actually)

Eigentlich ist Deutsch nicht so schwierig, wie es scheint.

(Actually, German is not as difficult as it seems.)

8. Ein Beispiel anführen  (To give an example)

Ich möchte ein Beispiel anführen .

(I would like to give an example.)

9. Dieses Beispiel zeigt, dass… (This example shows that…)

Dieses Beispiel zeigt, dass das Lernen einer Fremdsprache beim Reisen viele Vorteile hat.

(This example shows that studying a foreign language has many advantages when traveling.)

10. Erstens… zweitens… (Firstly… secondly…)

Erstens kann man sich auf Reisen besser verständigen und zweitens lernt man viele neue Leute kennen.

(Firstly, you can communicate better while traveling, and secondly, you meet many new people.)

11. Das Wichtigste ist…  (T he most important thing is…)

Das Wichtigste ist , die Angst vor der Sprache zu verlieren.

(The most important thing is to lose your fear of the language.)

12. Außer dem (Furthermore)

Außerdem kann man beim Reisen seine Sprachkenntnisse verbessern.

(Furthermore, you can improve your language knowledge while traveling.)

13. Nicht nur… sondern auch…  (Not only… but also…)

Nicht nur im Unterricht, sondern auch im Alltag kann man viel Deutsch lernen.

(Not only in class, but also in everyday life you can learn a lot of German.)

14. Obwohl (Even though)

Obwohl Anna viel lernt, hat sie Probleme mit der deutschen Grammatik.

(Even though Anna studies a lot, she has problems with German grammar.)

15. Allerdings (However)

Anna lernt gerne Deutsch, allerdings hat sie Probleme mit der Grammatik.

(Anna enjoys studying German; however, she has problems with the grammar.)

16. Trotz   (Despite)

Trotz ihrer Probleme mit der Grammatik lernt Anna gerne Deutsch.

(Despite her problems with German grammar, Anna enjoys studying German.)

17. Im Vergleich zu (In comparison to)

Im Vergleich zu Russisch ist Deutsch eine einfache Sprache.

In comparison to Russian, German is an easy language.

18. Im Gegensatz zu (In contrast to; Unlike)

Im Gegensatz zu Anna lernt Paul gerne neue Vokabeln.

Unlike Anna, Paul enjoys learning new vocabulary.

19. Meiner Meinung nach (In my opinion)

Meiner Meinung nach sollte jeder eine Fremdsprache lernen.

(In my opinion, everybody should study a foreign language.)

20. Ich bin der Ansicht, dass…  (I believe that…)

Ich bin der Ansicht, dass jeder eine Fremdsprache lernen sollte.

(I believe that everybody should study a foreign language.)

21. Ich finde es schade, dass…  (I think it’s a pity that…)

Ich finde es schade, dass die Schulen keine anderen Fremdsprachen unterrichten.

(I think it’s a pity that schools don’t teach other foreign languages.)

22. Alles in Allem (Overall)

Alles in allem ist Deutsch nicht so schwierig, wie es scheint.

(Overall, German isn’t as difficult as it seems.)

23. Im Großen und Ganzen (Overall)

Im Großen und Ganzen ist Deutsch keine schwierige Sprache.

(Overall, German isn’t a difficult language.)

24. Zusammenfassend kann man sagen, dass…  (In summary, it can be said that…)

Zusammenfassend kann man sagen, dass Sprachen beim Reisen sehr hilfreich sein können.

(In summary, it can be said that languages can be very helpful when traveling.)

Ok, let’s get a little deeper into the actual essays themselves. How do they compare to the essays that you’re probably used to writing?

• They have a similar structure to English essays. Remember how English essays have a beginning, middle and end? Good news: German essays contain those same parts. When you’re writing a German essay, you’ll want to include an opening paragraph with your argument, three supporting paragraphs that further your argument and a conclusion. German and English are often surprisingly similar, and essay structure is no exception.
• German essays are more to the point. Although German essays and English essays are structured similarly, German essays—just like German speakers—tend to be more blunt and to the point. You won’t need to dance around your conclusions or obfuscate in German: just say what you mean.
• German punctuation is different. Germans have different rules for punctuation than English speakers. For example, Germans introduce a direct quote with a colon instead of a comma. They use quotes instead of italics for the names of books, movies and newspapers. And they set off relative clauses beginning with dass (that) with a comma, unlike in American English. Understanding these differences between English and German punctuation will ensure you don’t give yourself away as a non-native speaker through punctuation marks alone!

Before you get started on your essay, make sure you know what type of essay you’re going to write. If it’s a school essay, be sure to read and understand the instructions.

Here are a few notes about the most common kinds of essays in German.

• An Erzählung  is a narrative essay that tells a story. Your teacher might give you some keywords or pictures and ask you to create a story around it. An Erlebniserzählung (“experience story”) is about a personal experience and can be written in the first person.
• An Erörterung is an argumentative essay, a writing piece meant to persuade someone to think the way you do. This writing genre requires you to investigate your topic well and provide evidence to prove your point.
• In a Nacherzählung you summarize and recount a book, a film or an article you have read, from an objective perspective. Depending on the essay instructions, you might be asked for your personal opinion in the conclusion.

Are you ready to start writing? Use these four strategies to wow your teachers and write the perfect German essay.

You should look at any new activity as an opportunity to learn and master new vocabulary . Instead of using the same words that you use in your everyday German speech, use this essay as an opportunity to introduce new words into your German lexicon.

Besides, incorporating academic words that help you craft and shape your argument can make your essay sound more professional and polished. So before you start writing, write down a list of the German words you’d like to incorporate in your essay.

As with everything else, you should look at the research portion of the essay-writing process as an opportunity to learn more about Germany—this time, about German culture, history , politics or travel .

Chances are if you’re writing your essay for a language-learning class, you’ll be assigned a topic pertaining to one of these aspects of German life, so use this as a chance to learn more about Deutschland.

For example, Deutsche Welle offers information and resources about German history. Other newspapers such as Berliner Zeitung and Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung offer another perspective on politics and daily life in Germany.

There’s nothing clunkier than an essay that doesn’t flow naturally from one point to the next. Besides, thinking about how your arguments and points interact with each other will help you organize your essay and make sure you get your point across. (Do they support each other? Counter each other? How exactly do they function to further your argument?)

Examples of transition words:

• Vorher (prior)
• zur gleichen Zeit (at the same time)
• dann (then)
• trotzdem (nevertheless)
• noch (still)

Writing an essay in English and then translating it into German often results in stilted, poorly formed sentences and unnatural constructions.

For example, remember that German word order is different from English. If you write “He didn’t read the book,” a one-to-one literal translation would be Er hat gelesen nicht das Buch . But the correct translation is actually  Er hat nicht das Buch gelesen. In this example, translating word for word leads to errors.

There’s another, less tangible reason why it’s not a good idea to write in English and translate to German. Sure, you could just remember that you need to change the word order when translating into German. But isn’t it better to adapt your brain so that German word order seems fluid and natural?

Learning to think and write off-the-cuff in German is an essential step towards fluency, and devising sentences in German, instead of sentences in translation, will help you learn to do that.

One good way to learn to think in a language is to hear it spoken in natural contexts. You can hear German spoken naturally in German language TV shows , movies and YouTube videos .

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Listening to German spoken at a natural speed and native accent will help get you thinking in the language in real time. This will help get you to the point where you can come up with your own sentences in German, rather than thinking in English sentences first and then translating them in your head before you speak or write. That will greatly improve your speed and fluency when writing in German.

So, simply start writing the essay in German. Look up any words you’re not sure of and double-check any grammatical constructions that you’re not familiar with. After you finish writing, ask a German-speaking friend to look over the essay to make sure it sounds natural.

Now that we’ve explored strategies and phrases for writing top-notch German essays, let’s take a look at an example.

World War I doesn’t get as much coverage in the States as World War II (where it was more directly involved). But for Europe, World War I was a devastating example of the dangers of modern technological warfare and the horrors of violence.

Let’s take a look at an example opening paragraph and outline of an essay about the effect of World War I on German government and life.

Opening paragraph:

Der Erste Weltkrieg war ein totaler Krieg, der Deutschland völlig veränderte. Dieser Krieg hat 1914 angefangen, und 1918, als der Krieg zu Ende kam, waren die deutsche Gesellschaft, Regierung und Kultur nicht mehr erkennbar. Am Anfang hat der Erste Weltkrieg altväterliche Ideen und Systeme verstärkt. Am Ende hat dieser Krieg dagegen diese altväterlichen Dinge zerstört.

(The First World War was a total war that completely changed Germany. This war began in 1914 and in 1918, when the war came to an end, German society, government and culture were no longer recognizable. At the beginning, the First World War strengthened old-fashioned ideas and systems. However, by the end, this war destroyed these old-fashioned things.)

Notice that this opening paragraph is not very different at all from the first paragraph of an English essay. You can use the same structure you’ve always used to write your German essay, leaving you free to focus on grammar and vocabulary.

Notice also the use of phrases such as Am Anfang (at the beginning) and Dagegen (however). Words like these can help you make a point and counterpoint in your opening paragraph (or anywhere in your essay, for that matter).

I. Am Anfang (at the beginning):

– Dieser Krieg hat Deutschland vereint . (This war united Germany.) – Menschen hatten ein patriotisches Gefühl. (People had a patriotic feeling.) – Menschen dachten, dass der Krieg bald zu Ende kommen würde. (People thought that the war would soon come to an end.)

Notice that these points employ words like dachten (thought). Written German often relies on Präteritum , a form of the past tense that’s rarely used in spoken Deutsch. It’s often called “literary past tense” for this reason. Check out this guide to the Präteritum to include this tense in your essay.

II. Andrerseits (on the other hand):

– Bald gab es kein Essen mehr . (Soon there was no more food.) – Menschen wurden krank und desillusioniert . (People became sick and disillusioned.) – Es gab Proteste und Unruhen. (There was protest and unrest.)

Like in an English essay, your second and third paragraphs can include supporting points or counterpoints that contribute to the overall theme of your piece. The word Andrerseits (on the other hand) is an ideal transition word to show that you’re moving into another section of your essay.

Also notice that this essay will rely on vocabulary words that the average language learner might not have come across in his or her learning. After all, who learns the words for “disillusioned” and “unrest” in their intermediate German class? But don’t be daunted by the fact that your essay might include eclectic vocabulary. Instead, use this as an opportunity for more learning.

III. zum Schluss (in conclusion):

– Der Kaiser hat abgedankt . (The Emperor abdicated.) – Eine Republik wurde geboren. (A Republic was born.) – Die alten Werte waren weg. (The old values were gone.)

Once again, abgedankt (abdicated) is an example of the literary past tense (and an example of a word that you probably haven’t come across in your previous German studies!)

IV. Schließlich (finally)

– Der Erste Weltkrieg hat Deutschland verändert . (The First World War completely changed Germany.)

Again, like in an English essay, you should use this paragraph to summarize your main point.

Feeling a bit more confident about your next German essay now?

Just make a great essay plan, write down some new words and phrases that you want to include and off you go!

By sprinkling these bits of flair into your German essays, you’re sure to make your writing better and more effective.

Enjoy writing!

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Describing your family and pets in German using 'haben'

Part of German Topics

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Video transcript video transcript.

Talking about your family in German

**Wer ist in deiner Familie?**Who’s in your family?

Hier ist meine Familie . Here’s my family.

Let’s start with my mother, meine Mutter , and my father, mein Vater .

When you say ‘my’ in German you use meine for feminine nouns - meine Mutter and mein for masculine nouns - mein Vater .

Or meine Schwester , my sister, and mein Bruder , my brother.

Ich habe eine Schwester und einen Bruder. - I have a sister and a brother.

In German there’s a word for brothers and sisters - die Geschwister .

Meine Gescwhister sind älter als ich - My brother and sister are older than me.

Meine Eltern sind geschieden - My parents are divorced.

Ich wohne mit meiner Mutter under meinem Stiefvater - I live with my mother and my stepfather.

Das is meine Familie - that’s my family.

der Hund - the dog

der Hamster - the hamster

der Goldfisch - the goldfish

die Katze - the cat

die Maus - the mouse

die Spinne - the spider

die Schildkröte - the tortoise

das Meerschweinchen - the guinea pig

das Kaninchen - the rabbit

Plural pets

But what if you have more than one pet? You can’t simply add an s on the end like in English. Plurals in German have different endings depending on the noun. Masculine and neuter nouns often add an e and feminine nouns often add an n .

• Ich habe zwei Hund e - I have two dog s .
• Ich habe drei Pferd e - I have three horse s .
• Er hat vier Katze n - He has four cat s .
• Sie hat acht Spinne n - She has eight spider s .

There are some exceptions to this rule:

• Ich habe zwei Kaninchen - I have two rabbits.
• Ich habe sieben Meerschweinchen - I have seven guinea pigs.
• Ich habe sechs Hamster - I have six hamster s .

Ich habe vier Mäuse - I have four mice .

Here are some plural pets:

Audio Transcript Audio Transcript

Find out how much you know about family and pets in German in this short quiz!

Game - FestiLingo: German

Visit the festival and practise German language skills in this game

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50 Useful German Essay Words and Phrases

by  fredo21  

January 9, 2019

2  Comments

Essay-writing is in itself already a difficult endeavor. Now writing an essay in a foreign language like German ---that’s on a different plane of difficulty.  

To make it easier for you, here in this article, we’ve compiled the most useful German essay phrases. Feel free to use these to add a dash of pizzazz into your essays. It will add just the right amount of flourish into your writing---enough to impress whoever comes across your work!

You can also download these phrases in PDF format by clicking the button below.

Now here’s your list!

What other German vocabulary list would you like to see featured here? Please feel free to leave a message in the comment section and we’ll try our best to accommodate your requests soon!

Once again, you can download your copy of the PDF by subscribing using the button below!

For an easier way to learn German vocabulary, check out German short stories for beginners!

A FUN AND EFFECTIVE WAY TO LEARN GERMAN

• 10 entertaining short stories about everyday themes
• Practice reading and listening with 90+ minutes of audio 
• Learn 1,000+ new German vocabulary effortlessly!

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Thank you for the good writeup. It in fact was a amusement account it. Look advanced to far added agreeable from you! By the way, how can we communicate?

Asking questions are genuinely good thing if you are not understanding anything completely, except this piece of writing provides nice understanding yet.

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Sokel Prize Essay Prize 2024 ~ Winners

WALTER H. SOKEL PRIZE DEADLINE: APRIL 22, 2024

Entries should be submitted To Prof. Lorna Martens ([email protected]) Thanks to a generous grant from Prof. Walter H. Sokel (1917-2014), the German Department is offering a prize of $350 to the best essay of at least 3,500 words on German literature or culture. The essay may be in English or German. Students may submit revised and/or expanded essays completed for classes taught by the German Department.