German · People & Family
"Parents" in German: Eltern
die Eltern
Parents in German is die Eltern, a plural-only noun. Say meine Eltern for my parents, and ein Elternteil for one parent.
Weekend plan
Meine Eltern kommen am Sonntag.Speak with an AI partner · 7 days free
How to pronounce Eltern
Say it
EL-tern
/ˈɛltɐn/
EL-tern. Short e, clear t. Stress first syllable.
"Parents" in German: quick reference
| German | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| die Eltern | parents Always plural. | Always plural. |
| meine Eltern | my parents Possessive. | Possessive. |
| die Schwiegereltern | parents-in-law In-laws. | In-laws. |
| ein Elternteil | a parent One parent. | One parent. |
How to use Eltern in real life
- 1Weekend plan
Meine Eltern kommen am Sonntag.
My parents are coming on Sunday.
Meine Eltern takes plural verb.
- 2School form
Unterschrift der Eltern erforderlich.
Parents' signature required.
Der Eltern is genitive plural.
- 3Introductions
Kennst du schon meine Eltern?
Do you already know my parents?
Everyday question.
Mistakes English speakers make with Eltern
Incorrect: der Eltern
Correct: die Eltern
Eltern is plural: die Eltern.
Incorrect: mein Eltern
Correct: meine Eltern
Plural possessive meine, not mein.
Good to know
Elternzeit is parental leave, a major social topic. Talking about meine Eltern is normal adult small talk, not only for kids.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
Planning a visit
ChatPal
Wann kommen deine Eltern an?
When do your parents arrive?
You
Samstag. Meine Eltern bleiben drei Nächte.
Saturday. My parents are staying three nights.
ChatPal
Sollen wir mit den Eltern essen gehen?
Shall we go out to eat with your parents?
You
Ja. Meine Eltern mögen italienisch.
Yes. My parents like Italian food.
This is a sample. In ChatPal you have this conversation out loud and get feedback on what you say.
Practice this conversation in ChatPal"Parents" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "Parents" in German
Is Eltern singular or plural?
Plural only: die Eltern.
How do you say one parent?
Ein Elternteil.
How do you say parents-in-law?
Die Schwiegereltern.
How do you say my parents?
Meine Eltern.
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
