German · A2 (Elementary)
Family in German: Words & Phrases
Quick answer: The most useful German words for family are der Ehemann (the husband), die Ehefrau (the wife) and der Sohn (the son). 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 A2 (Elementary) material — exactly the kind of practical language you need when you're learning German to live, work, or settle abroad.
Source: Language Lab's German curriculum (vocabulary & example sentences). · Join the beta →
Key family vocabulary
| German | English |
|---|---|
| der Ehemann | the husband |
| die Ehefrau | the wife |
| der Sohn | the son |
| die Tochter | the daughter |
| der Großvater | the grandfather |
| die Großmutter | the grandmother |
| der Neffe | the nephew |
| die Nichte | the niece |
| der Schwager | the brother-in-law |
| die Schwiegermutter | the mother-in-law |
Example sentences
Mein Ehemann kommt aus Österreich.
My husband comes from Austria.
Meine Ehefrau arbeitet als Ärztin.
My wife works as a doctor.
Mein Sohn ist fünf Jahre alt.
My son is five years old.
Meine Tochter geht zur Schule.
My daughter goes to school.
Mein Großvater wohnt in Bayern.
My grandfather lives in Bavaria.
Meine Großmutter kocht sehr gut.
My grandmother cooks very well.
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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