Expressing ‘Parents’ in German- Discovering the German Vocabulary for Mother and Father

How do you say “parents” in German? When learning a new language, it’s essential to familiarize yourself with the basic vocabulary, and understanding how to express common family relationships is a great starting point. In German, the word for “parents” is “Eltern.” This term is used to refer to both the mother and the father collectively. In this article, we will explore the usage of “Eltern” and other related terms in the German language.

The German language has a rich vocabulary, and family relationships are no exception. While “Eltern” is the term for parents, there are other words used to describe specific family members. For instance, “Mutter” means “mother,” and “Vater” means “father.” These words are used to refer to each parent individually.

In a formal context, you might want to use “Eltern” when addressing a group of parents or when talking about the parents as a unit. For example, if you’re discussing a parent-teacher meeting, you might say, “Das Eltern-Unterrichtsgespräch ist sehr wichtig.” This translates to “The parent-teacher meeting is very important.”

In more casual conversations, you might use “Mutter” and “Vater” to refer to your own parents or when speaking about someone else’s parents. For instance, if you’re talking to a friend about their parents, you might say, “Meine Mutter und Vater sind sehr nett.” This means “My mother and father are very nice.”

It’s also worth noting that in German, family relationships are often emphasized through the use of prefixes and suffixes. For example, “Eltern” can be combined with other words to create compound terms. “Elterliche” is the adjective form of “Eltern,” meaning “parental,” as in “elterliche Verantwortung” (parental responsibility).

In addition to “Eltern,” there are other terms related to family relationships in German. “Kind” means “child,” “Bruder” means “brother,” and “Schwester” means “sister.” These words can be used to describe various family members, and they are also essential for building a strong foundation in the German language.

In conclusion, when you want to say “parents” in German, you use the word “Eltern.” This term is versatile and can be used in various contexts, from formal discussions to casual conversations. As you continue to learn the German language, familiarizing yourself with these basic family relationship terms will help you communicate more effectively and build a deeper understanding of the language and culture.