German · People & Family
"Father-in-law" in German: Schwiegervater
der Schwiegervater
Father-in-law in German is der Schwiegervater, masculine. Plural is die Schwiegerväter with an umlaut. Informal talk still keeps this compound.
How to pronounce Schwiegervater: audio and sound guideWeekend plans
Mein Schwiegervater kommt am Sonntag.Speak with an AI partner · 7 days free
How to pronounce Schwiegervater
Say it
SHVEE-ger-fah-ter
/ˈʃviːɡɐˌfaːtɐ/
SHVEE-ger-fah-ter. Stress Schwieger-. Soft final -er.
"Father-in-law" in German: quick reference
| German | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| der Schwiegervater | father-in-law Default. | Default. |
| mein Schwiegervater | my father-in-law Possessive. | Possessive. |
| die Schwiegerväter | fathers-in-law Plural with ä. | Plural with ä. |
| Schwiegereltern | parents-in-law Both parents together. | Both parents together. |
How to use Schwiegervater in real life
- 1Weekend plans
Mein Schwiegervater kommt am Sonntag.
My father-in-law is coming on Sunday.
Mein + masculine.
- 2At dinner
Der Schwiegervater mag Kartoffelsalat.
Father-in-law likes potato salad.
Der Schwiegervater.
- 3Phone call
Ich rufe kurz meinen Schwiegervater an.
I will quickly call my father-in-law.
Meinen = accusative.
Mistakes English speakers make with Schwiegervater
Incorrect: die Schwiegervater
Correct: der Schwiegervater
Masculine: der Schwiegervater.
Incorrect: Schwiegervateren
Correct: Schwiegerväter
Plural takes umlaut: Schwiegerväter.
Good to know
Good to knowSchwieger- marks in-laws: Schwiegermutter, Schwager, Schwägerin. Germans often keep first names once you are close, but Schwiegervater stays clear in introductions.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
Planning a family lunch
ChatPal
Kommt dein Schwiegervater mit?
Is your father-in-law coming along?
You
Ja, mein Schwiegervater bringt Kuchen.
Yes, my father-in-law is bringing cake.
ChatPal
Nett. Mag der Schwiegervater Kaffee?
Nice. Does father-in-law like coffee?
You
Klar. Mein Schwiegervater trinkt immer zwei Tassen.
Sure. My father-in-law always drinks two cups.
This is a sample. In ChatPal you have this conversation out loud and get feedback on what you say.
Practice this conversation in ChatPal"Father-in-law" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "Father-in-law" in German
What gender is Schwiegervater?
Masculine: der Schwiegervater.
What is the plural?
Die Schwiegerväter.
Parents-in-law together?
Die Schwiegereltern.
Mother-in-law?
Die Schwiegermutter.
Use these words in a conversation
Find useful phrases for a situation, learn what to say back, and rehearse your part with revealable sample answers.
Learn a word, then use it out loud
- Step 1: See it in context
- Step 2: Say it out loud
- Step 3: Get feedback
- Step 4: Use it in real scenarios
