German · People & Family
"Family" in German: Familie
die Familie
Family in German is die Familie, a feminine noun. Say meine Familie for my family. Relatives as a group can also be die Verwandten, which is a bit wider than just parents and kids.
Small talk
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How to pronounce Familie
Say it
fa-MEE-lee-uh
/faˈmiːliə/
fa-MEE-lee-uh. Stress the second syllable. The final e is a soft uh. The F is the same as English.
"Family" in German: quick reference
| German | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| die Familie | family Your family as a unit. | Your family as a unit. |
| meine Familie | my family The usual possessive phrase. | The usual possessive phrase. |
| die Verwandten | relatives Wider family circle, not only parents and children. | Wider family circle, not only parents and children. |
| die Familie gründen | to start a family Common phrase about having kids. | Common phrase about having kids. |
How to use Familie in real life
- 1Small talk
Meine Familie wohnt noch in Hamburg.
My family still lives in Hamburg.
Familie is singular even when it means several people.
- 2Weekend plans
Am Sonntag esse ich bei meiner Familie.
On Sunday I'm eating at my family's place.
Bei + dative: bei meiner Familie.
- 3Introducing people
Das ist meine Familie — Mama, Papa und mein Bruder.
This is my family — mom, dad, and my brother.
A natural way to present people in a photo.
Mistakes English speakers make with Familie
Incorrect: mein Familie
Correct: meine Familie
Familie is feminine, so use meine, not mein.
Incorrect: die Families
Correct: die Familien
The plural is Familien. English -s plurals do not work in German.
Good to know
Familie often means the close household, while Verwandtschaft covers the broader web of cousins and in-laws. Sundays and holidays are still common times for Familienessen, a shared meal that can stretch through the afternoon.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
Showing photos after meeting a new friend
ChatPal
Kommst du aus einer großen Familie?
Do you come from a big family?
You
Ja, meine Familie ist ziemlich groß.
Yes, my family is fairly big.
ChatPal
Schön! Ich vermisse meine Familie oft.
Nice! I often miss my family.
You
Ich auch. Deshalb rufe ich meine Familie oft an.
Me too. That's why I call my family often.
This is a sample. In ChatPal you have this conversation out loud and get feedback on what you say.
Practice this conversation in ChatPal"Family" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "Family" in German
Is Familie feminine?
Yes: die Familie. Possessives take feminine endings: meine Familie, deine Familie.
What is the difference between Familie and Verwandte?
Familie is the family unit. Verwandte or Verwandten are relatives more broadly, including distant ones.
How do you say family members?
Die Familienmitglieder. In casual talk people just list Mutter, Vater, Geschwister.
Does Familie take a singular verb?
Usually yes: Meine Familie ist… Germans treat it as one group, not they are.
Learn a word, then use it out loud
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- Step 3: Get feedback
- Step 4: Use it in real scenarios
