German · People & Family
"Mother-in-law" in German: Schwiegermutter
die Schwiegermutter
Mother-in-law in German is die Schwiegermutter, feminine. Plural is die Schwiegermütter with an umlaut. Schwiegereltern covers both parents-in-law.
Weekend visit
Meine Schwiegermutter bleibt über Nacht.Speak with an AI partner · 7 days free
How to pronounce Schwiegermutter
Say it
SHVEE-ger-moot-ter
/ˈʃviːɡɐˌmʊtɐ/
SHVEE-ger-moot-ter. Stress Schwieger-. Long u in Mutter.
"Mother-in-law" in German: quick reference
| German | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| die Schwiegermutter | mother-in-law Default. | Default. |
| meine Schwiegermutter | my mother-in-law Possessive. | Possessive. |
| die Schwiegermütter | mothers-in-law Plural with ü. | Plural with ü. |
| Schwiegereltern | parents-in-law Both together. | Both together. |
How to use Schwiegermutter in real life
- 1Weekend visit
Meine Schwiegermutter bleibt über Nacht.
My mother-in-law is staying overnight.
Meine + feminine.
- 2Cooking
Die Schwiegermutter bringt Suppe mit.
Mother-in-law is bringing soup.
Die Schwiegermutter.
- 3Text message
Ich schreibe meiner Schwiegermutter kurz.
I am quickly writing my mother-in-law.
Meiner = dative.
Mistakes English speakers make with Schwiegermutter
Incorrect: der Schwiegermutter (nominative)
Correct: die Schwiegermutter
Nominative is die Schwiegermutter.
Incorrect: Schwiegermuttern
Correct: Schwiegermütter
Plural takes umlaut: Schwiegermütter.
Good to know
Schwieger- is the in-law marker across the family set. Humor about Schwiegermütter exists, but everyday talk is usually warm and practical.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
Preparing the guest room
ChatPal
Wann kommt deine Schwiegermutter?
When is your mother-in-law coming?
You
Meine Schwiegermutter kommt Freitag.
My mother-in-law is coming Friday.
ChatPal
Mag die Schwiegermutter Tee oder Kaffee?
Does mother-in-law like tea or coffee?
You
Tee. Meine Schwiegermutter trinkt selten Kaffee.
Tea. My mother-in-law rarely drinks coffee.
This is a sample. In ChatPal you have this conversation out loud and get feedback on what you say.
Practice this conversation in ChatPal"Mother-in-law" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "Mother-in-law" in German
What gender is Schwiegermutter?
Feminine: die Schwiegermutter.
Plural?
Die Schwiegermütter.
Father-in-law?
Der Schwiegervater.
Parents-in-law?
Die Schwiegereltern.
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- Step 2: Say it out loud
- Step 3: Get feedback
- Step 4: Use it in real scenarios
