German · A1 (Beginner)
Family in German: Words & Phrases
Quick answer: The most useful German words for family are die Mutter (the mother), der Vater (the father) and die Schwester (the sister). The full German family phrase list with example sentences is below.
The essential German vocabulary for family, with example sentences and English translations. This is A1 (Beginner) material — exactly the kind of practical language you need when you're learning German to live, work, or settle abroad.
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Key family vocabulary
| German | English |
|---|---|
| die Mutter | the mother |
| der Vater | the father |
| die Schwester | the sister |
| der Bruder | the brother |
| die Familie | the family |
| die Eltern | the parents |
| der Onkel | the uncle |
| die Tante | the aunt |
| der Sohn | the son |
| die Tochter | the daughter |
Example sentences
Meine Mutter heißt Anna.
My mother's name is Anna.
Mein Vater arbeitet in Berlin.
My father works in Berlin.
Ich habe eine Schwester.
I have a sister.
Mein Bruder ist zehn Jahre alt.
My brother is ten years old.
Meine Familie wohnt in München.
My family lives in Munich.
Meine Eltern kommen aus Hamburg.
My parents come from Hamburg.
How to actually learn these
Reading a vocabulary list is not the same as being able to use the words when it counts. Research on adult language acquisition consistently shows that vocabulary retained through contextual use — hearing a word, producing it under mild pressure, and being corrected when you get it wrong — transfers to real speech far more effectively than passive list review. The fastest way to make vocabulary like this stick is to practise it in the actual conversations where it comes up: not drills, but a real back-and-forth where you have to retrieve the word and say it aloud. Language Lab turns vocabulary like this into voiced, real-life scenarios with Sonia, a live AI language tutor who holds real conversations, corrects you in context, and remembers the specific words you keep getting wrong across sessions. The vocabulary stops being something you read and becomes something you say — automatically, under pressure, when you actually need it.
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