Dutch · A1 (Beginner)
Family in Dutch: Words & Phrases
Quick answer: The most useful Dutch words for family are de moeder (the mother), de vader (the father) and de zus (the sister). The full Dutch family phrase list with example sentences is below.
The essential Dutch 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 Dutch to live, work, or settle abroad.
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Key family vocabulary
| Dutch | English |
|---|---|
| de moeder | the mother |
| de vader | the father |
| de zus | the sister |
| de broer | the brother |
| de familie | the family |
| de ouders | the parents |
| de zoon | the son |
| de dochter | the daughter |
| de oom | the uncle |
| de tante | the aunt |
Example sentences
Mijn moeder heet Anna.
My mother's name is Anna.
Mijn vader werkt in Amsterdam.
My father works in Amsterdam.
Ik heb een zus.
I have a sister.
Mijn broer is tien jaar oud.
My brother is ten years old.
Mijn familie woont in Rotterdam.
My family lives in Rotterdam.
Mijn ouders komen uit Utrecht.
My parents come from Utrecht.
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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