How many words are in this list?

This page gives 100 German words on “Family and relationships”. The full topic holds 140 in the KoKo app: 56 at the easy level, 49 at the medium level and 35 at the hard level.

Which words should I start with?

With level 1: these are the easiest words of the topic. Move on to level 2 once they come to you without thinking, then to level 3.

How can I remember this German vocabulary?

By seeing each word again at longer and longer intervals, just before you forget it: that is spaced repetition. The KoKo app does it for you and tells you each day which words to review.

Can I print this list or save it as a PDF?

Yes. The “Print the list” button at the top of the page opens your device’s print dialog: choose to save as PDF to keep the 100 words and their translation, with nothing else around them.

German vocabulary: family

Parents, children, grandparents, friends, partners: family members and relationships in German.

Here are 100 German words on “Family and relationships”, translated into English and sorted from easiest to hardest.

Level 1: easy 40 words

German	English
Geburt	birth
fester Freund	boyfriendMale partner, romantic relationship
Bruder	brother
Schwager	brother in law
Kind	child
Sorgerecht	child custody
Lebensgemeinschaft	cohabitation
Paar	couple
Papa	dadInformal register, a child’s word for their father
Tochter	daughter
Todesfall	death
Familie	family
Familienessen	family meal
Vater	fatherStandard register, the man who is the child’s biological parent or raises the child
Schwiegervater	father in law
Freund	friend
Generation	generation
feste Freundin	girlfriendFemale partner, romantic relationship
Enkelin	granddaughterDaughter of one’s son or daughter
Großvater	grandfather
Urgroßvater	great grandfather
Urgroßmutter	great grandmother
Halbbruder	half brother
Ehemann	husbandEveryday use
Schwiegereltern	in laws
Liebe	love
Mann	man
Mutter	motherStandard register, the woman who gives birth to or raises the child
Schwiegermutter	mother in law
Mama	mumInformal register, a child’s word for their mother
Schwester	sister
Schwägerin	sister in law
Unterstützung	support
Nachname	surname
sich gut verstehen	to get on well
besuchen	to visit
Vertrauen	trust
Erziehung	upbringing
Ehering	wedding ring
Frau	woman

Level 2: medium 35 words

German	English
Adoption	adoption
Unterhalt	alimony
Streit	argument
Tante	aunt
Bruch	break up
Brautjungfer	bridesmaid
Kumpel	buddy
Zeremonie	ceremony
Klassenkamerad	classmate
Kollege	colleague
Cousin	cousinSon of one’s uncle or aunt
Nachkomme	descendant
Scheidung	divorce
ältestes Kind	eldest child
Vorname	first name
Freundschaft	friendship
Pate	godfather
Bräutigam	groomOn the wedding day
Flitterwochen	honeymoon
Gastgeber	host
Erbe	inheritance
Nachbar	neighbour
Neffe	nephewSon of one’s brother or sister
Nichte	nieceDaughter of one’s brother or sister
Schwangerschaft	pregnancy
Trennung	separation
Solidarität	solidarity
Jugendlicher	teenager
Spannung	tension
adoptieren	to adopt
Schluss machen	to break up
heiraten	to get married
großziehen	to raise
Onkel	uncle
jüngstes Kind	youngest child

Level 3: hard 25 words

German	English
Vorfahre	ancestor
Tagesmutter	childminder
Schwiegertochter	daughter in lawWife of one’s son
Verlobung	engagement
Verwandtschaftsgrad	family tie
Verlobter	fiancePerson engaged to be married, before the ceremony
Patenkind	godchild
Säugling	infant
kinderreiche Familie	large family
Vormund	legal guardian
Lebensgefährte	live in partner
elterliche Sorge	parental authority
Versöhnung	reconciliation
Ähnlichkeit	resemblance
Rivalität	rivalry
Einelternfamilie	single parent family
Schwiegersohn	son in lawHusband of one’s daughter
stillen	to breastfeed
schmusen	to cuddle
sich scheiden lassen	to divorce
entbinden	to give birth
sich versöhnen	to make up
schimpfen	to scold
Zwilling	twin
Untreue	unfaithfulness

Mini quiz

5 words from this page, picked at random. Find their translation.

Frequently asked questions

How many words are in this list?: This page gives 100 German words on “Family and relationships”. The full topic holds 140 in the KoKo app: 56 at the easy level, 49 at the medium level and 35 at the hard level.
Which words should I start with?: With level 1: these are the easiest words of the topic. Move on to level 2 once they come to you without thinking, then to level 3.
How can I remember this German vocabulary?: By seeing each word again at longer and longer intervals, just before you forget it: that is spaced repetition. The KoKo app does it for you and tells you each day which words to review.
Can I print this list or save it as a PDF?: Yes. The “Print the list” button at the top of the page opens your device’s print dialog: choose to save as PDF to keep the 100 words and their translation, with nothing else around them.