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.
Weekend 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
Schwieger- 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.
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
