German · People & Family

"Siblings" in German: Geschwister

die Geschwister

Say it: geh-SHVIS-terfeminine plural · die Geschwisternoun/ɡəˈʃvɪstɐ/

Siblings in German is die Geschwister, a plural noun. Ask Hast du Geschwister? One brother or sister alone is Bruder or Schwester, not Geschwister.

Small talk

Hast du Geschwister?
Do you have siblings?
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How to pronounce Geschwister

Say it

geh-SHVIS-ter

/ɡəˈʃvɪstɐ/

geh-SHVIS-ter. Soft g. Soft w as v. Soft final -er.

"Siblings" in German: quick reference

GermanEnglish
die Geschwistersiblings

Default plural noun.

meine Geschwistermy siblings

Possessive.

Hast du Geschwister?Do you have siblings?

Classic question.

Geschwisterkindniece/nephew (sibling’s child)

Related compound.

How to use Geschwister in real life

  1. 1Small talk

    Hast du Geschwister?

    Do you have siblings?

    Geschwister in the question.

  2. 2Family size

    Ich habe zwei Geschwister.

    I have two siblings.

    Zwei Geschwister.

  3. 3Visit

    Meine Geschwister kommen am Wochenende.

    My siblings are coming on the weekend.

    Meine Geschwister.

Mistakes English speakers make with Geschwister

Incorrect: der Geschwister

Correct: die Geschwister

Geschwister is used in the plural with die.

Incorrect: ein Geschwister (for one person)

Correct: ein Bruder / eine Schwester

For one person say Bruder or Schwester.

Good to know

Geschwister covers brothers and sisters together. Forms ask Hast du Geschwister? early because it opens family talk without listing genders.

Try it in a ChatPal conversation

Getting to know a classmate

  1. ChatPal

    Hast du Geschwister?

    Do you have siblings?

  2. You

    Ja, zwei Geschwister Bruder und Schwester.

    Yes, two siblings — a brother and a sister.

  3. ChatPal

    Nett. Wohnen deine Geschwister hier?

    Nice. Do your siblings live here?

  4. You

    Nur einer. Meine Geschwister sind verteilt.

    Only one. My siblings are spread out.

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"Siblings" in other languages

FAQ

Common questions about "Siblings" in German

How do you say siblings?

Die Geschwister.

Do you have siblings?

Hast du Geschwister?

One sibling?

Usually Bruder or Schwester, not Geschwister.

My siblings?

Meine Geschwister.

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