my family essay german

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Easy German Essays for Beginners: 8 Examples to Practice Your Language Skills

Are you a beginner in learning German and looking for ways to practice your language skills? One great way to do so is by writing essays in German. Writing essays not only improves your grammar and vocabulary but also helps you express your thoughts and ideas in the target language. In this article, we will provide you with eight easy German essays for Beginners with English translation and vocabulary to help you get started.

• Meine Familie (My family) – Write about your family, including their names, occupations, and hobbies.
• Mein Haus (My house) – Describe your house or apartment, including the number of rooms, furniture, and decorations.
• Meine Hobbys (My hobbies) – Talk about your favorite hobbies, such as playing sports, reading books, or listening to music.
• Meine Schule (My school) – Write about your school, including its location, teachers, and subjects you study.
• Meine Freunde (My friends) – Discuss your friends, including how you met them, their personalities, and what you like to do together.
• Meine Stadt (My city) – Describe your city or town, including its population, tourist attractions, and cultural events.
• Meine Reise (My trip) – Write about a recent trip you took, including the destination, transportation, and activities you did there.
• Meine Lieblingsessen (My favorite food) – Talk about your favorite foods, including traditional German dishes and other international cuisines.

Remember to use simple vocabulary and sentence structures while writing the essays. Good luck with your German learning journey!

Table of Contents

Meine familie (my family).

Ich heiße Maria und ich möchte euch gerne meine Familie vorstellen. Wir sind insgesamt vier Personen in meiner Familie. Mein Vater heißt Klaus und er arbeitet als Ingenieur. Meine Mutter heißt Petra und sie ist Hausfrau. Mein Bruder heißt Jan und er geht noch zur Schule.

(My name is Maria, and I would like to introduce you to my family. We are a family of four. My father’s name is Klaus, and he works as an engineer. My mother’s name is Petra, and she is a homemaker. My brother’s name is Jan, and he still goes to school.)

Vocabulary:

• Ich heiße Maria (My name is Maria)
• insgesamt (altogether)
• vier Personen (four persons)
• der Vater (father)
• arbeiten (to work)
• der Ingenieur (engineer)
• die Mutter (mother)
• Hausfrau (homemaker)
• der Bruder (brother)
• noch zur Schule gehen (still go to school)

Mein Vater arbeitet in einem großen Unternehmen als Ingenieur. Er ist sehr fleißig und verbringt viel Zeit im Büro. In seiner Freizeit geht er gerne joggen oder spielt Golf. Meine Mutter kümmert sich um den Haushalt und verbringt viel Zeit damit, leckere Mahlzeiten zu kochen. Sie liest auch gerne Bücher und geht regelmäßig zum Yoga.

(My father works in a large company as an engineer. He is very hardworking and spends a lot of time in the office. In his free time, he likes to go jogging or play golf. My mother takes care of the household and spends a lot of time cooking delicious meals. She also likes to read books and regularly attends yoga classes.)

• in einem großen Unternehmen (in a large company)
• sehr fleißig (very hardworking)
• viel Zeit (a lot of time)
• im Büro (in the office)
• in seiner Freizeit (in his free time)
• joggen (to go jogging)
• Golf spielen (to play golf)
• sich kümmern um (to take care of)
• der Haushalt (household)
• leckere Mahlzeiten kochen (cook delicious meals)
• gerne lesen (like to read)
• regelmäßig (regularly)
• zum Yoga gehen (go to yoga)

Mein Bruder Jan geht noch zur Schule und ist sehr sportlich. Er spielt Fußball im Verein und geht regelmäßig ins Fitnessstudio. In seiner Freizeit hört er gerne Musik und schaut Filme.

(My brother Jan still goes to school and is very sporty. He plays soccer in a club and regularly goes to the gym. In his free time, he likes to listen to music and watch movies.)

• sehr sportlich (very sporty)
• Fußball spielen (to play soccer)
• im Verein (in a club)
• ins Fitnessstudio gehen (to go to the gym)
• Musik hören (listen to music)
• Filme schauen (watch movies)

Ich studiere im Moment an der Universität und meine Hobbys sind Lesen, Reisen und Yoga. In meiner Freizeit gehe ich gerne in die Natur und genieße die frische Luft.

(I am currently studying at the university, and my hobbies are reading, traveling, and yoga. In my free time, I like to go into nature and enjoy the fresh air.)

• studieren (to study)
• an der Universität (at the university)
• die Hobbys (hobbies)
• Lesen (reading)
• Reisen (traveling)
• Yoga (yoga)
• die Freizeit (free time)
• in die Natur gehen (go into nature)
• genießen (enjoy)
• frische Luft (fresh air)

Das ist meine Familie. Wir haben viele verschiedene Hobbys und Interessen, aber wir verbringen auch gerne gemeinsam Zeit miteinander.

(This is my family. We have many different hobbies and interests, but we also enjoy spending time together.)

• das ist (this is)
• verschiedene Hobbys und Interessen (different hobbies and interests)
• gerne Zeit miteinander verbringen (enjoy spending time together)

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Mein Haus (My House)

Ich lebe in einem Haus mit drei Schlafzimmern und zwei Bädern. Das Haus ist zweistöckig und hat auch einen Keller. Im Erdgeschoss befinden sich das Wohnzimmer, die Küche und ein Esszimmer. Im Wohnzimmer haben wir ein bequemes Sofa und einen großen Fernseher. In der Küche gibt es eine Spülmaschine, einen Herd, einen Backofen und einen Kühlschrank. Das Esszimmer hat einen Esstisch mit sechs Stühlen.

(I live in a house with three bedrooms and two bathrooms. The house is two stories and also has a basement. On the ground floor, there is the living room, kitchen, and a dining room. In the living room, we have a comfortable sofa and a large television. In the kitchen, there is a dishwasher, stove, oven, and refrigerator. The dining room has a dining table with six chairs.)

• das Haus (house)
• die Schlafzimmer (bedrooms)
• die Bäder (bathrooms)
• zweistöckig (two-storied)
• der Keller (basement)
• das Erdgeschoss (ground floor)
• das Wohnzimmer (living room)
• die Küche (kitchen)
• das Esszimmer (dining room)
• ein bequemes Sofa (a comfortable sofa)
• ein großer Fernseher (a large television)
• eine Spülmaschine (a dishwasher)
• ein Herd (a stove)
• ein Backofen (an oven)
• ein Kühlschrank (a refrigerator)
• ein Esstisch (a dining table)
• sechs Stühle (six chairs)

Im Obergeschoss befinden sich die Schlafzimmer und die Bäder. Mein Schlafzimmer hat ein großes Bett, einen Schreibtisch und einen Kleiderschrank. Das Badezimmer hat eine Badewanne und eine Dusche. In den anderen Schlafzimmern gibt es auch Betten und Schränke für Kleidung.

(Upstairs, there are the bedrooms and bathrooms. My bedroom has a large bed, a desk, and a closet. The bathroom has a bathtub and a shower. In the other bedrooms, there are also beds and closets for clothes.)

• das Obergeschoss (upper floor)
• das Schlafzimmer (bedroom)
• der Schreibtisch (desk)
• der Kleiderschrank (closet)
• das Badezimmer (bathroom)
• die Badewanne (bathtub)
• die Dusche (shower)
• die anderen Schlafzimmer (the other bedrooms)

Im Keller haben wir eine Waschmaschine und einen Trockner. Wir nutzen den Keller auch als Lager für Dinge, die wir nicht oft brauchen.

(In the basement, we have a washing machine and dryer. We also use the basement as a storage area for things we don’t need often.)

• die Waschmaschine (washing machine)
• der Trockner (dryer)
• als Lager nutzen (use as storage area)
• Dinge (things)

Wir haben auch einige Dekorationen im Haus. Im Wohnzimmer haben wir ein großes Gemälde an der Wand und im Esszimmer steht eine Vase mit Blumen auf dem Tisch.

(We also have some decorations in the house. In the living room, we have a large painting on the wall, and in the dining room, there is a vase of flowers on the table.)

• die Dekorationen (decorations)
• das Gemälde (painting)
• die Wand (wall)
• die Vase (vase)
• die Blumen (flowers)
• der Tisch (table)

Wir haben auch ein paar Teppiche im Haus, um den Boden zu bedecken. Das Wohnzimmer hat einen braunen Teppich, während die Schlafzimmer jeweils einen unterschiedlichen Farbton haben. Mein Schlafzimmer hat einen blauen Teppich, während das andere Schlafzimmer einen roten Teppich hat.

(We also have some carpets in the house to cover the floor. The living room has a brown carpet, while the bedrooms have a different color tone each. My bedroom has a blue carpet, while the other bedroom has a red carpet.)

• der Teppich (carpet)
• den Boden bedecken (to cover the floor)
• unterschiedliche Farbton (different color tone)

Insgesamt bin ich sehr glücklich mit meinem Haus. Es ist gemütlich und hat genug Platz für meine Familie und mich.

(Overall, I am very happy with my house. It is cozy and has enough space for my family and me.)

• insgesamt (overall)
• glücklich (happy)
• gemütlich (cozy)
• genug Platz (enough space)

Difference between ein, eine, einen, and einem in the German Language

Meine hobbys (my hobbies).

Ich habe einige Hobbys, die ich sehr gerne mache. Eines meiner Lieblingshobbys ist es, Sport zu treiben. Insbesondere mag ich es, Basketball zu spielen und Laufen zu gehen. Ich liebe es, im Freien zu sein und Sport zu treiben, weil es mir hilft, mich fit und gesund zu halten.

(I have some hobbies that I really enjoy doing. One of my favorite hobbies is doing sports. In particular, I like to play basketball and go running. I love being outdoors and doing sports because it helps me stay fit and healthy.)

• das Hobby (hobby)
• Sport treiben (to do sports)
• Basketball spielen (to play basketball)
• Laufen gehen (to go running)
• im Freien sein (to be outdoors)
• fit und gesund (fit and healthy)

Ein weiteres Hobby von mir ist das Lesen von Büchern. Ich lese gerne Romane und Sachbücher, besonders über Geschichte und Wissenschaft. Lesen ist für mich eine Möglichkeit, zu lernen und meine Vorstellungskraft zu erweitern.

(Another hobby of mine is reading books. I enjoy reading novels and non-fiction books, especially about history and science. Reading is a way for me to learn and expand my imagination.)

• das Lesen (reading)
• das Buch (book)
• der Roman (novel)
• das Sachbuch (non-fiction book)
• die Geschichte (history)
• die Wissenschaft (science)
• die Vorstellungskraft (imagination)

Außerdem höre ich gerne Musik. Ich mag viele verschiedene Genres wie Pop, Rock und Klassik. Musik kann meine Stimmung beeinflussen und mich entspannen.

(Additionally, I like to listen to music. I enjoy many different genres like pop, rock, and classical. Music can influence my mood and help me relax.)

• die Musik (music)
• das Genre (genre)
• Pop, Rock, Klassik (pop, rock, classical)
• die Stimmung (mood)
• sich entspannen (to relax)

Insgesamt bin ich sehr dankbar für meine Hobbys. Sie helfen mir, meinen Geist und Körper gesund zu halten und mich zu entspannen.

(Overall, I am very grateful for my hobbies. They help me keep my mind and body healthy and help me relax.)

• dankbar (grateful)
• der Geist (mind)
• der Körper (body)

German Essays on My Family: Meine Familie

Meine schule (my school).

Ich besuche eine Schule in der Nähe meines Hauses. Die Schule ist relativ groß und hat viele Schülerinnen und Schüler. Wir haben viele Lehrerinnen und Lehrer, die alle sehr nett und hilfsbereit sind.

(I attend a school near my house. The school is relatively large and has many students. We have many teachers who are all very kind and helpful.)

• besuchen (to attend)
• die Nähe (proximity)
• relativ (relatively)
• die Schülerin (female student)
• der Schüler (male student)
• viele (many)
• die Lehrerin (female teacher)
• der Lehrer (male teacher)
• nett (kind)
• hilfsbereit (helpful)

Die Schule bietet viele verschiedene Fächer an, einschließlich Mathematik, Geschichte, Englisch, Naturwissenschaften und Fremdsprachen. Mein Lieblingsfach ist Englisch, weil ich gerne Geschichten lese und schreibe. Ich denke, dass es wichtig ist, eine gute Ausbildung zu haben, um im Leben erfolgreich zu sein.

(The school offers many different subjects, including mathematics, history, English, science, and foreign languages. My favorite subject is English because I enjoy reading and writing stories. I believe that having a good education is important to be successful in life.)

• das Fach (subject)
• einschließlich (including)
• Mathematik (mathematics)
• Geschichte (history)
• Englisch (English)
• Naturwissenschaften (science)
• Fremdsprachen (foreign languages)
• das Lieblingsfach (favorite subject)
• die Geschichte (story)
• die Ausbildung (education)
• erfolgreich (successful)

Unsere Schule hat auch viele außerschulische Aktivitäten, wie zum Beispiel Sportmannschaften und Musikgruppen. Ich bin Mitglied des Schulfußballteams und wir haben viele Spiele gegen andere Schulen in der Gegend. Es macht mir viel Spaß und ich habe viele Freunde durch das Team kennengelernt.

(Our school also has many extracurricular activities, such as sports teams and music groups. I am a member of the school soccer team and we have many games against other schools in the area. It’s a lot of fun and I have made many friends through the team.)

• außerschulisch (extracurricular)
• die Aktivitäten (activities)
• die Sportmannschaften (sports teams)
• die Musikgruppen (music groups)
• das Mitglied (member)
• das Schulfußballteam (school soccer team)
• das Spiel (game)
• die Gegend (area)
• der Spaß (fun)
• der Freund (friend)

Insgesamt bin ich sehr glücklich auf meiner Schule und ich denke, dass ich hier eine gute Ausbildung bekomme. Ich hoffe, dass ich in Zukunft noch mehr von den vielen Möglichkeiten, die die Schule bietet, profitieren kann.

(Overall, I am very happy at my school and I think that I am getting a good education here. I hope that in the future, I can take advantage of even more of the many opportunities that the school offers.)

• die Möglichkeit (opportunity)
• profitieren (to take advantage of)

List of German adjectives with English meaning

Meine Freunde (My friends)

Ich habe viele Freunde, aber ich möchte über meine drei engsten Freunde sprechen. Wir haben uns alle in der Grundschule kennengelernt und sind seitdem unzertrennlich.

(I have many friends, but I want to talk about my three closest friends. We all met in elementary school and have been inseparable ever since.)

• die Freunde (friends)
• unzertrennlich (inseparable)

Mein erster Freund heißt Max. Er ist sehr sportlich und spielt gerne Fußball und Basketball. Max ist auch sehr lustig und hat immer eine positive Einstellung. Wir lieben es, zusammen Sport zu treiben oder Videospiele zu spielen.

(My first friend is Max. He is very athletic and likes to play soccer and basketball. Max is also very funny and always has a positive attitude. We love to exercise or play video games together.)

• sportlich (athletic)
• Fußball (soccer)
• Basketball (basketball)
• die Einstellung (attitude)
• lustig (funny)
• zusammen (together)
• Videospiele (video games)

Meine Freundin Anna ist sehr künstlerisch und liebt es zu malen und zu zeichnen. Sie hat auch ein großes Herz und ist immer bereit, anderen zu helfen. Anna und ich machen oft zusammen Kunstprojekte oder gehen ins Kino.

(My friend Anna is very artistic and loves to paint and draw. She also has a big heart and is always willing to help others. Anna and I often do art projects together or go to the movies.)

• künstlerisch (artistic)
• malen (to paint)
• zeichnen (to draw)
• das Herz (heart)
• bereit (willing)
• helfen (to help)
• das Kunstprojekt (art project)
• ins Kino gehen (to go to the movies)

Mein Freund Tom ist sehr intelligent und liebt es, neue Dinge zu lernen. Er ist auch sehr abenteuerlustig und geht gerne auf Reisen. Tom und ich haben viele spannende Abenteuer erlebt, wie zum Beispiel Campingausflüge oder Klettertouren.

(My friend Tom is very smart and loves to learn new things. He is also very adventurous and likes to travel. Tom and I have had many exciting adventures, such as camping trips or climbing expeditions.)

• intelligent (smart)
• abenteuerlustig (adventurous)
• die Reise (travel)
• die Abenteuer (adventures)
• der Campingausflug (camping trip)
• die Klettertour (climbing expedition)

Insgesamt bin ich sehr dankbar für meine Freunde und bin froh, dass ich sie habe. Wir haben so viele schöne Erinnerungen zusammen gemacht und ich freue mich auf viele weitere Abenteuer mit ihnen.

(Overall, I am very grateful for my friends and am glad to have them. We have made so many beautiful memories together and I look forward to many more adventures with them.)

• froh (glad)
• die Erinnerungen (memories)

Meine Stadt (My city)

Ich lebe in einer Stadt namens Hamburg in Deutschland. Hamburg ist die zweitgrößte Stadt Deutschlands und hat eine Bevölkerung von etwa 1,8 Millionen Menschen. Es ist eine Hafenstadt und liegt an der Elbe.

(I live in a city called Hamburg in Germany. Hamburg is the second largest city in Germany and has a population of about 1.8 million people. It is a port city and located on the river Elbe.)

• die Bevölkerung (population)
• der Hafen (port)
• die Elbe (river Elbe)

Hamburg ist bekannt für seine vielen Touristenattraktionen. Eines der bekanntesten ist der Hamburger Hafen, der einer der größten Häfen Europas ist. Es gibt auch den Fischmarkt, auf dem man frischen Fisch kaufen und lokale Spezialitäten probieren kann.

(Hamburg is known for its many tourist attractions. One of the most famous is the Port of Hamburg, which is one of the largest ports in Europe. There is also the Fish Market, where you can buy fresh fish and try local specialties.)

• die Touristenattraktionen (tourist attractions)
• bekannt (known)
• der Fischmarkt (fish market)
• frisch (fresh)
• lokale Spezialitäten (local specialties)

Außerdem gibt es viele kulturelle Veranstaltungen in Hamburg. Jedes Jahr findet das Hamburger Domfest statt, das größte Volksfest im Norden Deutschlands. Es gibt auch das Internationale Filmfest Hamburg, bei dem Filme aus der ganzen Welt gezeigt werden.

(Additionally, there are many cultural events in Hamburg. Every year, the Hamburg Dom Festival takes place, which is the largest folk festival in northern Germany. There is also the Hamburg International Film Festival, where films from all over the world are shown.)

• kulturelle Veranstaltungen (cultural events)
• das Domfest (folk festival)
• das Internationale Filmfest (international film festival)
• aus der ganzen Welt (from all over the world)

Insgesamt ist Hamburg eine lebendige und vielfältige Stadt, die für jeden etwas zu bieten hat.

(Overall, Hamburg is a vibrant and diverse city that has something to offer for everyone.)

• lebendig (vibrant)
• vielfältig (diverse)
• etwas zu bieten haben (to have something to offer)

My trip (Meine Reise)

Ich bin vor Kurzem mit meiner Familie nach Paris gereist. Wir sind direkt von unserer Stadt aus geflogen und kamen früh am Morgen in Paris an.

(I recently went on a trip to Paris with my family. We took a direct flight from our city and arrived in Paris early in the morning.)

• Vor Kurzem (recently)
• Die Reise (trip)
• Meine Familie (my family)
• Fliegen (to fly)
• Direkt (direct)
• Unsere Stadt (our city)
• Ankommen (to arrive)
• Früh (early)
• Am Morgen (in the morning)

Wir haben in einem Hotel im Herzen der Stadt gewohnt, in der Nähe vieler beliebter Sehenswürdigkeiten. Unser Hotelzimmer hatte eine tolle Aussicht auf den Eiffelturm, der nur einen kurzen Spaziergang entfernt war.

(We stayed in a hotel in the heart of the city, close to many popular tourist attractions. Our hotel room had a great view of the Eiffel Tower, which was just a short walk away.)

• das Hotel (hotel)
• die Stadt (city)
• die Nähe (proximity, closeness)
• die Sehenswürdigkeiten (tourist attractions)
• das Hotelzimmer (hotel room)
• die Aussicht (view)
• der Eiffelturm (Eiffel Tower)
• der Spaziergang (walk)

Während unseres Aufenthalts haben wir viele berühmte Wahrzeichen der Stadt besucht, darunter das Louvre-Museum und die Kathedrale Notre-Dame. Wir haben auch eine Bootsfahrt auf der Seine gemacht, was eine großartige Möglichkeit war, die Stadt aus einer anderen Perspektive zu sehen.

(During our stay, we visited many of the city’s famous landmarks, including the Louvre Museum and Notre-Dame Cathedral. We also went on a boat tour of the Seine River, which was a great way to see the city from a different perspective.)

• der Aufenthalt (stay)
• berühmte Wahrzeichen (famous landmarks)
• das Louvre-Museum (the Louvre Museum)
• die Kathedrale Notre-Dame (Notre-Dame Cathedral)
• die Bootsfahrt (boat tour)
• die Seine (the Seine River)
• aus einer anderen Perspektive (from a different perspective)

Eines der Highlights unserer Reise war das Probieren der köstlichen französischen Küche. Wir haben in vielen verschiedenen Restaurants und Cafés gegessen und alles von Croissants bis Escargots ausprobiert.

(One of the highlights of our trip was trying the delicious French cuisine. We ate at many different restaurants and cafes, and tried everything from croissants to escargots.)

• das Highlight (the highlight)
• die Reise (the trip)
• das Probieren (the trying/tasting)
• die köstliche französische Küche (the delicious French cuisine)
• das Restaurant (the restaurant)
• das Café (the café)
• alles (everything)
• der Croissant (the croissant)
• die Escargots (the escargots (snails))

Insgesamt war unser Trip nach Paris eine wunderbare Erfahrung. Wir haben die schönen Sehenswürdigkeiten, das leckere Essen und die reiche Kultur der Stadt genossen. Es war eine großartige Gelegenheit, Zeit mit meiner Familie zu verbringen und bleibende Erinnerungen zu schaffen.

(Overall, our trip to Paris was a wonderful experience. We enjoyed the beautiful sights, delicious food, and rich culture of the city. It was a great opportunity to spend time with my family and create lasting memories.)

• Insgesamt (Overall)
• Trip (trip)
• Paris (Paris)
• Eine wunderbare Erfahrung (A wonderful experience)
• Wir haben genossen (We enjoyed)
• Die schönen Sehenswürdigkeiten (The beautiful sights)
• Das leckere Essen (The delicious food)
• Die reiche Kultur der Stadt (The rich culture of the city)
• Eine großartige Gelegenheit (A great opportunity)
• Zeit mit meiner Familie zu verbringen (To spend time with my family)
• Bleibende Erinnerungen zu schaffen (To create lasting memories)

Meine Lieblingsessen (My favorite food)

Ich esse gerne viele verschiedene Arten von Essen und habe viele Lieblingsspeisen. Einige meiner Favoriten sind traditionelle deutsche Gerichte wie Schnitzel und Spätzle, Sauerkraut und Bratwurst.

(I like to eat many different types of food and have many favorite dishes. Some of my favorites are traditional German dishes like Schnitzel and Spätzle, Sauerkraut, and Bratwurst.)

• Lieblingsspeisen (favorite dishes)
• traditionelle deutsche Gerichte (traditional German dishes)
• Schnitzel (breaded and fried meat cutlets)
• Spätzle (soft egg noodles)
• Sauerkraut (fermented cabbage)
• Bratwurst (grilled or fried sausage)

Ich mag auch viele internationale Küchen, wie zum Beispiel italienische Pizza und Pasta, thailändisches Curry, indische Masala und japanisches Sushi.

(I also enjoy many international cuisines, such as Italian pizza and pasta, Thai curry, Indian masala, and Japanese sushi.)

• internationale Küchen (international cuisines)

Ein weiteres meiner Lieblingsessen ist mexikanisches Essen wie Tacos, Quesadillas und Guacamole. Die Kombination aus scharfen Gewürzen und frischen Zutaten macht das Essen zu einer Geschmacksexplosion.

(Another one of my favorite foods is Mexican cuisine like tacos, quesadillas, and guacamole. The combination of spicy seasonings and fresh ingredients makes the food a flavor explosion.)

• scharfe Gewürze (spicy seasonings)
• frische Zutaten (fresh ingredients)
• Geschmacksexplosion (flavor explosion)
• mexikanisches Essen (Mexican cuisine)
• Tacos (filled tortillas)
• Quesadillas (stuffed and grilled tortillas)
• Guacamole (dip made from mashed avocado)

Insgesamt genieße ich es, neue Gerichte und Küchen auszuprobieren und verschiedene Aromen und Texturen zu entdecken. Essen ist eine große Leidenschaft von mir und ich liebe es, zu kochen und neue Rezepte zu kreieren.

(Overall, I enjoy trying new dishes and cuisines and discovering different flavors and textures. Food is a big passion of mine, and I love to cook and create new recipes.)

• Aromen und Texturen (flavors and textures)
• Leidenschaft (passion)
• Rezepte (recipes)
• kochen (to cook)
• kreieren (to create)

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Conclusion:

In conclusion, writing essays in German can be a fun and effective way to improve your language skills. The eight essay examples provided in this article (Easy German Essays for Beginners) offer a range of topics that will help you practice your writing skills, expand your vocabulary, and gain confidence in your ability to express yourself in German. So why not try writing one of these essays today and see how much progress you can make in your German language journey?

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• Level A1 23

Editor Picks

Meine Verwandten - My Relatives

• die Eltern - parents.
• der Vater - father
• die Mutter - mother
• die Großmutter, der Großvater - grandmother, grandfather
• Stiefmutter, Stiefvater - stepmother, stepfather.
• der Onkel - uncle.
• die Tante - aunt.
• der Neffe - nephew.
• die Nichte - niece.
• die Geschwister - siblings.
• der Halbbruder, die Halbschwester - half brother, half sister
• das Einzelkind - only child.

Meine Familienangehörigen

• I have a stepmother and two half-brothers.
• My aunt's called Anna and she is 43 years old.
• My nephew has short, blonde hair and grey eyes.

Große oder kleine Familie

Wie groß ist deine Familie, Abdul?

• How big is your family, Abdul?

Meine Familie ist wirklich groß. Ich habe fünf Geschwister. Mein Halbbruder ist älter als ich aber meine anderen vier Geschwister sind alle jünger.

• My family is really big. I have five siblings. My half-brother is older than me, but my other four siblings are all younger.

Familienbeziehungen - Family Relationships

• sich gut mit ... verstehen - to get along well with...
• ein gutes/schlechtes Verhältnis zu... - a good/bad relationship with...
• sich streiten - to argue.
• auf die Nerven gehen - to get on (someone's) nerves.
• nicht leiden können - to not be able to bear (someone).
• zu streng - too strict.
• lieb - nice, sweet.
• freundlich - friendly.
• sympathisch - friendly, pleasant, likeable.

Deine Familienbeziehungen

• My aunt gets along well with my sister.
• My niece is very sweet.
• My uncle can't stand my father.

Eltern und Geschwister

• Do you get along well with your parents and siblings?
• I have a good relationship with my mother, but my stepfather is too strict, so we often argue. My siblings also get on my nerves sometimes.

1 Identity & Culture

1.1 Me, My Family & Friends

1.1.1 Describing Yourself

1.1.2 My Family

1.1.3 Personalities

1.1.4 My Relationship

1.1.5 Marriage

1.1.6 Divorce

1.2 Technology in Everyday Life

1.2.1 Social Media

1.2.2 Technology

1.3 Free-Time Activities

1.3.1 Music

1.3.2 Cinema & TV

1.3.4 Pantry

1.3.5 Eating Out

1.3.6 Sport

1.4 Customs & Festivals in German-speaking Countries

1.4.1 Holidays

1.4.2 Christian Festivals

1.4.3 Festivals in German-Speaking Countries

2 Areas of Interest

2.1 Home, Town, Neighbourhood & Region

2.1.2 Rooms in the House

2.1.4 Shops & Transport

2.1.5 Home Items

2.2 Social Issues

2.2.1 Alcohol

2.2.2 Drugs

2.2.3 Smoking

2.2.4 Smoking 2

2.2.5 Health

2.2.6 Health - 2

2.2.7 Volunteering

2.2.8 Race & Immigration

2.2.9 Hospital

2.3 Global Issues

2.3.1 Homelessness & Poverty

2.3.2 Littering

2.3.3 Land & Air Pollution

2.3.4 UV Rays & Acid Rain

2.3.5 Saving Resources

2.3.6 Nature Conservation

2.3.7 Nature Conservation 2

2.3.8 Sustainable Living

2.4 Travel & Tourism

2.4.1 Countries to Visit

2.4.2 Things to See

2.4.3 Planning a Holiday

2.4.4 Journey

3 Study & Employment

3.1 My Studies

3.1.1 Subjects

3.1.2 Your School

3.1.3 Types of School

3.2 Life at School

3.2.1 School Stress

3.2.2 Regular Day

3.3 Education Post-16

3.3.1 Future Plans

3.4 Jobs, Career Choices & Ambitions

3.4.1 Part-time Jobs & Work Experience

3.4.2 Job Hunt

3.4.3 Workplace

Jump to other topics

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Describing Yourself

Personalities

Learn to talk about your immediate, extended or chosen family in German

Marie Schmoll

More than 40 million Americans claim German ancestry , so many of them feel a little bit German even if they don’t actually live in a German-speaking country . If that’s you and you want to explain in German that your great-great-grandfather came from Germany, we’ve got you covered.

Learning how to refer to family members in German is a great way to get started on learning the German language . These are usually some of the very first words we learned to say in our mother tongue, too. That’s why they’re so simple and easy to pronounce. After all, little German babies are just as new to the language as you are. If they can manage to say “Mom” and “Dad” in German, so can you!

Family in German

The German word for family is “ Familie ” [faˈmiːli̯ə] and the plural is “ Familien ” [faˈmiːli̯ən]. Luckily it’s very similar to the English word: Fah-me-lee-eh(/en).

Slang words include “ deine Alten ” (your old ones) for someone’s parents, but this expression has a negative connotation. So unless you’re joking with a friend, be polite and stick to the official terms when you encounter the following scenarios:

• When meeting your German friend’s or partner’s family
• When making German smalltalk by asking someone how their family has been
• When meeting someone new and asking them basic questions about their family situation in German

Interested in your family history?

Immediate family members in german.

In German, the immediate family is called the “ Kernfamilie ” (nuclear or core family). Learning how to describe it is important for basic conversations. That’s why we’ll teach you crucial words like “Mother”, “Father”, “Brother”, “Sister”, “Daughter” and “Son” in German.

Extended family in German

Of course, most families are bigger than that. You might want to talk about your third cousins and your great great grandmother in German, too.

Family members by marriage - Step and in-laws

In Germany, like in America, too, the inlaws have a worse image than they deserve. Even though most people actually do get along with their in-laws, one German expression in particular reflects on the bad rep they get: “ Jemanden stiefmütterlich behandeln ” (to treat someone stepmotherly) means “to neglect or ignore someone”.

Other family-related terms in German

Family is based on so much more than biology. Here are some important terms you can use to explain and introduce your chosen family including adoption and marriage.

Talking about family in day to day situations

When you meet someone new, the first thing you probably want to know is their name . Next up, asking about their family is a great way to get to know them a little bit. You might want to ask if they have siblings or children and chat about your own family situation. So we’ll get you started with the basics.

Common conversation

• Question. Hast du Geschwister? (Do you have siblings?)
• Answer. Ja, ich habe einen großen Bruder und zwei kleine Schwestern. (Yes, I have a big brother and two little sisters.)
• Question. Hast du eine große Familie? (Do you have a big family?)
• Answer. Meine Familie besteht aus meinem Papa, meiner Stiefmama, meinem Bruder Bruno und meiner Katze Fräulein Miez . (My family consists of my dad, my stepmom, my brother Bruno and my cat Fräulein Miez).
• Question. Leben deine Eltern in der Nähe? (Do your parents live close by?)
• Answer. Nein, meine Eltern leben beide in Hamburg und ich lebe in Frankfurt. (No, my parents both live in Hamburg and I live in Frankfurt.)

An easy follow-up question is to ask their sibling’s age (or their puppy’s!). Remember pets absolutely are a part of the family. So don’t forget to incorporate them in the conversation. If you need help remembering what to call your pet in German, refer to our fun guides on animals and birds in German .

• Question. Ist deine Schwester älter oder jünger als du? (Is your sister older or younger than you?)
• Answer. Meine Schwester ist zwei Jahre jünger als ich . (My sister is two years younger than me.)
• Question. Wie alt sind deine Geschwister? (How old are your siblings?)
• Answer. Mein kleiner Bruder ist erst 10. Er geht noch zur Schule. Mein anderer Bruder studiert . (My little brother is only 10. He is still in school. My other brother is in college).
• Question. Wie alt sind deine Haustiere? (How old are your pets?)
• Answer. Mein Welpe ist erst ein Jahr alt, und mein Papagei ist zwei. (My puppy is only one year old, and my parrot is two.)

Describing your family in German

Do you have your mom’s eyes but your dad’s ears? There are many things you can say about your family, all of them great for smalltalk.

• Meine Mutter und mein Vater haben braune Augen, wie ich, aber meine Schwester hat blaue Augen. (My mother and father have brown eyes, like me, but my sister has blue eyes.)
• Ich hab die schwarzen Locken von meinem Vater. Meine Mutter hat rote Haare. (I got my curly black hair from my dad. My mother has red hair.)
• Ich bin mit einem Zwilling verheiratet. (I’m married to a twin.)
• Ich bin adoptiert. (I’m adopted.)
• Ich telefoniere einmal im Monat mit meinen Eltern. (I call my parents once a month.)
• Ich bin ein Katzenmensch, aber mein Freund ist eher ein Hundemensch . (I’m a cat person but my boyfriend is more of a dog person.)

Family-related German idioms

There are some fun idioms and sayings about family members in German. To raise someone literally means “to pull someone tall” ( großziehen ), which, as so many other quirky German expressions , creates a wonderful picture - like you could just grab the child by the head and the feet and start pulling them until they’re tall.

Also, having custody over a child is “the right to worry about them” ( Sorgerecht ) and the big toe is called the “Big uncle” in German ( Großer Onkel ).

Videos to learn how to talk about family in German

Kinderlieder - die hai-familie.

Have you always wanted to listen to the Baby Shark Song in German? Absolutely not?

Well, give it a try anyway because you know how effectively it will get stuck in your head. So when the lyrics are in German, you have no other choice but to learn them, including all the important family related words like “Mama”, “Papa”, “Oma” and “Opa”.

Cultural considerations when it comes to family in German

Marriages are at a record low in Germany - the lowest since World War I.

At the same time, birth rates have been increasing and people still form partnerships and live together. They just tend to not get married.

Maybe Germans are busy enough with the draining bureaucracies of everyday life and don’t want to make their lives even more complicated by adding the paperwork that comes with getting married to their list.

So they stay in committed relationships without getting married, which is how the beautifully long German word “ Lebensabschnittsgefährte ” came to be. A commonly used term, it literally translates to “life section companion” and refers to your current partner.

You may not want to use the word as a pet name, since it’s less romantic than “love of my life” and certainly longer than “bae” but if you think about it, it’s still a positive term.

It entails the idea that even if you may not spend your entire life with one person, they’re your companion for a specific time of your life and that’s very nice to have and acknowledge.

This is a very realistic, down-to-earth view on partnership - you might say a very German one.

Family structures hold societies together and they’re just as important in Germany as they are everywhere else. Yet, sometimes family matters can be a bit of a headache. So try to take an uncomplicated German approach to all things family:

If a relationship ever doesn’t work out, just thank your Lebensabschnittsgefährten that they were there for you during a special time in your life. Then remember that other mothers have pretty sons or daughters, too - and when it comes to raising kids, throw out all the parenting books. Just pull them until they’re tall enough to manage on their own.

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Talk About Family in German with 41 Vocabulary Words

Have you ever noticed how often family comes up in conversation? 

Whether you’re learning German for the first time or looking to expand your vocabulary , understanding how to talk about family is essential for everyday conversations. 

Let’s explore how to talk about family in German, from your immediate to your extended family and beyond!

The Importance of Family in German Culture

How to say “family” in german, how to talk about family members in german, immediate family in german, extended family in german, sample sentences for talking about family, and one more thing....

Download: This blog post is available as a convenient and portable PDF that you can take anywhere. Click here to get a copy. (Download)

Family is highly valued in German culture. Germans often maintain strong ties with their immediate and extended families and there’s a strong sense of loyalty and commitment to your family.  

The German social welfare system is also family-oriented, with policies that support families, especially those with children. This includes parental leave, childcare services and financial assistance. German parents are entitled to a whopping three years of parental leave … per child! 

There’s also a strong emphasis on respecting and caring for elders in German families. Grandparents often play an active role in the lives of their grandchildren, providing wisdom and guidance. They’re generally well taken care of by the country  when they need additional care later in life.

While elders are important, the typical German household consists of mother, father and children, with extended relatives and elders generally living on their own. 

Special events and holidays are often celebrated at home with the family. These events bring family members together and are marked by traditions and rituals. 

In fact, spending some down time with the fam is so important to German culture that it’s celebrated by Kaffee und Kuchen , an hour break from a work day to relax over coffee and cake with family (or friends/coworkers). 

The word for “family” in German is Familie and the plural is Familien . 

The word is pretty much synonymous, but just be sure to learn it as a singular word, not plural. Often in English, you’ll hear people say “My family are ” instead of “My family is. ” This doesn’t fly in German—so be sure to always conjugate whatever verb you’re using to the third person singular!

Here are a few examples:

Meine Familie ist groß. — My family is big.

Ich liebe meine Familie. — I love my family.

Wie geht es deiner Familie? — How is your family?

Seine Familie kommt aus Deutschland. — His family is from Germany.

Es gibt viele Familien in dieser Nachbarschaft. — There are many families in this neighborhood.

You just learned a lot of words! How do you actually put them to use? You can start by adapting the sentences below to suit whatever you need to say. 

• Das ist meine Familie. — This is my family. 
• Wir sind eine glückliche Familie. — We are a happy family.
• Ich habe einen Bruder und eine Schwester. — I have a brother and a sister.
• Meine Eltern leben in New York. — My parents live in New York.
• Ich verbringe gerne Zeit mit meinen Kindern. — I love spending time with my children.
• Wie geht es deiner Schwester? — How is your sister? 
• Familie ist das Wichtigste im Leben. — Family is the most important thing in life.
• Meine Großeltern wohnen in einem kleinen Dorf. — My grandparents live in a small village.
• Ich habe viele Cousins und Cousinen. — I have many cousins.
• Wie viele Geschwister hast du? — How many siblings do you have?
• Erzähl mir mehr von deiner Familie. — Tell me more about your family.

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German family words are a breeze to remember, especially as an English speaker.

And remember: We’re all part of the German language learning family! 

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Learn to Say “Father” in German and More

Imagine that you’re traveling to good old Germany , and you want the real experience (not just staying in a hotel or hostel like everyone else). Well, this is fair enough, and we definitely encourage going for the full Germany experience. But first, you’ll need to know some basic family terms, like how to say “father” in German.

Why is it so important to know the words for family members in German? Imagine the following situation:

You arrive at your freshly booked Airbnb, and your host welcomes you with a nice dinner. But there’s one hitch: you find yourself eating with his parents, some friends, his cousin, and his grandmother, too. Your host starts to introduce everyone, pointing to each person as he states their name:

Ich möchte dich meinen Eltern vorstellen. Das sind mein Papa und meine Mutter. Und dort sitzt meine Großmutter und mein Cousin.

Despite your host’s best efforts to familiarize you with his family, you actually find yourself more confused about who’s who. Oh no!

While learning things like family member terms in German first-hand is always a great idea, you may be more comfortable studying up on this before your trip. After all, when it comes to family in German, words like the one in our example are going to come up all the time, so you should prepare using German lessons about family like this one!

GermanPod101 has prepared a guide just for you, covering vocabulary terms for any family member you may find yourself introduced to! Going through this guide, you can work on your language skills beforehand, so that you can make the most of your first-hand learning experiences in Germany. So let’s get started!

Table of Contents

• Family in German – Die Familie
• List of Closest Family Members + Basic Sentence Patterns
• More Family and Endearment Terms
• How to Talk about Family
• Cultural Insights in a German Family
• How GermanPod101 Can Help You Learn about Family in German

1. Family in German – Die Familie

Familie is the German word for “family.” As you can see, the word is more similar to English than you thought. Might this be because German families aren’t so different from those in the U.S. or other countries? Let’s take a look.

When you look over the demographics of Germany , you can clearly see that we are a dying nation. This means that every year, more people die than are being born, and our average age is getting older and older from year to year. (This is, of course, not exclusive to Germany, and is also happening in other first-world countries.)

I want to give you a short example of the above statistics using my family history. My grandmother was one of six children in her family at the end of the Second World War, and this was considered a normal-sized family. Now, my mom and dad are both one of three children. And today, there’s just me and my sister. From each of my uncles and aunties, I have between zero and three cousins.

Do you see what I mean? German families have become much smaller over the last seventy-eighty years. Today, people tend to think first about their lives and careers, and secondly about kids and family.

Families are the most important reference point for a child until the end of his or her time in college. But for many people, the end of college also represents a diminishing significance for their parents’ home. Keep in mind that I don’t want to say German kids don’t love their parents. Of course they do.

The family is, and will always be, important in Germany, so learn about it and adapt to it!

2. List of Closest Family Members + Basic Sentence Patterns

1- General Terms for German Immediate Family

We created an overview of the most important family in German vocabulary words, such as your siblings, parents, and grandparents. The German is on the left, and the English equivalent is on the right.

To help you out with some basic words and the pronunciation for family member terms, we created a free lesson in our free-of-charge course. With enough practice, you’ll be able to talk about your parents and siblings in German like it’s nothing!

2- Talking about Family Members

There are usually three situations when talking about family:

• You’re trying to talk about your family
• You’re talking about someone else’s family members
• You’re asking someone about their family

That means you need to describe who’s family you’re talking or inquiring about. This is done with possessives.

Similar to “my,” “yours,” “his” in English, in Germany we use meine, deine , and seine . To prepare you for the upcoming challenges associated with each of the situations outlined above, we’ve provided you with some basic questions and answers.

Take a close look at how we used the possessive pronouns. They always have to be adapted to the person you’re talking about.

3. More Family and Endearment Terms

1- German Extended Family

Everybody has family members outside of their immediate family. Below, we give you some family member terms that you’ll face every day while living with a German family. We won’t go into too much detail, as the half-sister of your siblings’ aunt isn’t really interesting anymore.

This doesn’t seem too hard to understand, does it? With all of the terms we’ve gone over so far, you’re almost ready to talk about your family in various contexts. There are some more things we’ll cover in the next chapters, but what we have so far are the closest family members.

2- Endearment Terms

Families are cute, and you can always hear little grandsons or granddaughters calling their grandparents “granny” or “grandpa.” Those are just a couple examples of so-called endearment terms , and of course we have them in Germany as well.

We’ll show you two quick ways to create endearment terms, and give you some examples. Before we go on, we want to let you know that this doesn’t work with all family members the same way.

1. Adding an i

The first way to create endearment terms in Germany is to cut the last letter(s) of the term, and replace it with the letter i . It’s no mistake that we mentioned it can be the last letter or letters . When the term ends with a vowel, you replace only the last letter. In any other case, you need to replace the last two letters.

Here are some examples:

Mama -> Mami “mother” -> “mom/mommy”

Mutter -> Mutti “mother” -> “mom”

Papa -> Papi “father” -> “daddy”

Vater -> Vati “father” -> “dad”

Opa -> Opi “grandmother” -> “granny”

Oma -> Omi “grandfather” -> “grandpa”

But there are also examples where it doesn’t work, such as:

Onkel -> Onki Tante -> Tanti Großmutter -> Großmutti (theoretically this works, but you’re never going to use this)

2. Adding chen to the end of the word

This might be the better-known form for any German learner. This one is a bit trickier and has some special rules. The basic rule is that you just add chen after each term. But be aware that when doing this, in some cases, if the word ends with a vowel, you have to cut this vowel before adding the chen . Or, if the word has a vowel in-between, you change it to ü , ö , or ä (instead of u, o, a).

Good examples are:

Großmutter -> Großmütterchen (grandmother -> grandma) Onkel -> Onkelchen Tante -> Tantchen (aunt -> auntie) Cousine -> Cousinchen

As you can see, sometimes there’s not even a proper English translation for the endearment term you can create in German. The good thing about this way of creating endearment terms is that you can use it with almost everything, and you’re not limited to people or family members. Take a look at these examples:

Bierchen from the word Bier (beer) Tischchen from the word Tisch (table) Tässchen from the word Tasse (cup)

4. How to Talk about Family

It’s quite easy to introduce your family to another person in German. Let’s imagine ourselves sitting around a large table, where all the family is eating together, and a friend of yours arrives for the first time. You both stand in front of the table.

5. Cultural Insights in a German Family

The family is, for most Germans, one of the fundamental aspects of their lives. The family is an important part of every German . Children usually grow up close to their grandparents (who sometimes take care of their grandchildren when the parents are at work). Further, trust is a big thing for German families. But even with this strong bond, Germans are moving out of their parents’ home quite early to study, work, and become financially independent.

We’ve already mentioned that most German families are fairly small compared to those in other countries. Family size strongly depends on where you live, though. For instance, in the countryside, it’s normal for multiple generations to live on a big farm together, or even more than one family from one generation.

So it can be possible to find houses with up to ten people in the more rural areas, but even there, everybody has their own space and flat. You can live there with your parents, your grandparents, and maybe even your uncle’s family.

In the city, the situation is typically different, and families don’t live together. Everybody has their own flat or house, and don’t see each other in daily life.

Traditionally, the man is the head of the family. But let’s face it: this isn’t really how it works anymore. Women enjoy the same rights as men , and all decisions are made as a couple, or even among the entire family including children.

In the old days, it was common for people to get married after living together for a while. Now, you can find couples that stay together their whole lives and never get married. But trends are now coming back to the traditional way.

For some more information about German culture , we’ve prepared another lesson for you.

6. How GermanPod101 Can Help You Learn about Family in German

We hope that you got some helpful insight from our article about families in Germany, such as how to talk about family members. You now know a little bit about the typical family situation in Germany today, and how people are organizing their daily lives.

You should be able to talk about your immediate and extended family, introduce them to others, and talk to someone about them.

If you want to really boost your German skills, then we recommend our private teacher program which focuses on your personal goals based on your current level.

But we won’t leave you without making a quick gift to you. We have free-of-charge courses on GermanPod101.com for learners of every level:

• Intermediate

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How to Speak About the Family in German

• History & Culture
• Pronunciation & Conversation

Learning how to ask about someone's name or inquire about the family in German is a great way to get to know people. Even if you just want to learn to make small talk, these kinds of questions will come up in most conversations. It's important to remember that rules for addressing people in German tend to be stricter than in many other cultures, so learning the proper rules will help prevent you from being unintentionally rude. Below are some common questions and answers in German and English. 

Die Familie  •  The Family Continued

YOU: du - Sie

As you study the vocabulary for this lesson, pay attention to the difference between asking a formal ( Sie ) and a familiar ( du / ihr ) question. German-speakers tend to be much more formal than English-speakers. While Americans, in particular, may use first names with people they have just met or only know casually, German-speakers do not.

When a German-speaker is asked his or her name, the reply will be the last or family name, not the first name. The more formal question,  Wie ist Ihr Name? , as well as the standard  Wie heißen Sie? , should be understood as "what is your LAST name?"

Naturally, within the family and among good friends, the familiar "you" pronouns  du  and  ihr  are used, and people are on a first-name basis. But when in doubt, you should always err on the side of being too formal, rather than too familiar. 

For more about this important cultural difference, see this article:  You and thou,  Sie und du . The article includes a self-scoring quiz on the use of  Sie und du .

Kleine Familien

Families in German-speaking countries tend to be small, with only one or two children (or no children). The birthrate in Austria, Germany, and Switzerland is lower than in many modern industrialized nations, with fewer births than deaths, i.e., less than zero population growth.

• Everything you need to Know About German Names
• How to Use German Personal Pronouns
• Beginner German: Hear and Learn Words for Family Members
• How to Address Someone in German Properly
• Learning German "Give and Take" - "Geben, Nehmen"
• German for Beginners: Occupations (Beruf)
• Parts of the Body German for Beginners Lesson
• Top German Mistakes Made by Beginners
• German Verbs with Prepositions 1 - German Lesson
• Capitalization in German
• German for Beginners: Study Tips
• Formal and Informal German Greetings
• How to Say Thank You and You're Welcome in German
• Translating the Terms for "People" in German
• Doch ...and Other Tricky German Words
• Which Countries Speak German?

German Word Of The Day

How to introduce yourself in German (easy PDF script)

When you start learning German, one of the very first things you will probably learn is how to introduce yourself in German. There are several reasons why this topic is important. First, every time you meet new people in a German-speaking country, you are going to introduce yourself in German. You will repeat the same phrases in German so many times, that it makes sense to learn them by heart at the very beginning of your language-learning journey. Second, the self-introduction phrases are relatively easy to learn even if you are a total beginner. Being able to talk about yourself in a new language so quickly gives you an immediate boost in confidence and motivates you to learn more. So don’t hesitate and learn how to introduce yourself in German.

Some of the links on this site are affiliate links. I may earn an affiliate commission for some purchases you make through those links at no extra cost for you.

My tip for you: Download and print “How to introduce yourself in German PDF” , fill it with the information about yourself and learn it by heart as a script.

If you don’t know how to say some words like your country, profession, or hobby in German, use any available  online dictionary to translate.

Practice your introduction with someone who speaks German and tell them to ask you questions as well. If you don’t know anyone who speaks German, try looking for a language exchange partner or tutor online, for example, on Italki . I taught German on Italki for almost 2 years and used it as a student to learn Hindi and English.  You can find not only professional German teachers but also community tutors on Italki . Community tutors are native speakers without formal teacher education. Community speakers usually charge less than professional teachers and they are perfect for practicing informal conversation.

How to introduce yourself in German PDF

1. how to say “my name is ….” in german..

Ich heiße _______ . – My name is (name)  ( li terally means ‘I am called….’) .

Ich bin _______ . – I am (name).

Mein Name ist _______ . – My name is (name, surname) .

Ich heiße Maria. – My name is Maria.

Ich bin David. – I am David.

Mein Name ist Lucy Stein. – My name is Lucy Stein.

First two options are less formal. “Mein Name ist …” is more often used when you say your full name.

2. Country and nationality in German.

Ich komme aus  _______ . – I am from (country).

Ich komme aus Deutschland. – I am from Germany.

Ich komme aus Indien. – I am from India.

Ich komme aus den USA. – I am from the USA.

Ich komme aus der Ukraine. – I am from Ukraine.

Most of countries in German language are used without articles, but there are some exceptions like die USA, die Ukraine, die Türkei  etc. The preposition aus = from always takes the dative case, so if the country has an article, you have to change the article to dative case. I know it can be confusing for the beginners, so you can also just use Google your country name. Easy German has a great video about countries with articles .

If you want to mention your nationality, you can also say:

Ich bin  _______ . – I am (nationality).

Ich bin Mexikaner/Mexikanerin. – I am Mexican.

Ich bin Amerikaner/Amerikanerin. – I am American.

For most nationalities, the ending -in is added for the female form.

3.  Place of residence

Ich wohne in _______ . – I live in (city/country).

Ich wohne in Berlin. – I live in Berlin.

Ich wohne in Australien. – I live in Australia.

Ich wohne in der Schweiz. – I live in Switzerland.

Here the preposition in also takes Dative case, so you have to conjugate the article in dative if the country is used with the article.

4. Age, birthday

Ich bin _______ Jahre alt. – I am (age) years old.

Ich bin _______. – I am (age).

Mein Geburtstag ist im _______ . – My birthday is in (month).

Ich bin 26 (sechsundzwanzig) Jahre alt. – I’m 26 years old.

Ich bin 55 (fünfundfünfzig). – I am 55.

Mein Geburtstag ist im August. – My birthday is in August.

Months in German are very similar to English, read more here .

5. Occupation, job

Ich bin _______ von Beruf. – literally means I’m ____ by profession.

Ich bin _______ . – I’m (profession).

Ich bin Student/Studentin. – I am a student.

Ich bin Rentner/Rentnerin. – I am retired.

Ich bin Lehrer/Lehrerin von Beruf. – I’m a teacher.

Ich bin Programmierer/Programmiererin. – I’m a programmer.

Ich bin Arzt/Ärztin. – I’m a doctor.

Same as with nationalities, the words for professions in German are different for women and men. The ending     -in indicates that the person is female.

6. Languages

Meine Muttersprache ist _______. – My mother tongue is (language).

Ich spreche  _______. – I speak (language).

Ich lerne _______. – I am learning (language).

Meine Muttersprache ist Spanisch. – My mother tongue is Spanish.

Ich spreche Englisch, Französisch und Arabisch. – I speak English, French and Arabic.

Ich lerne Chinesisch und Deutsch. – I am learning Chinese and German.

7. Talking about family in German

Ich bin _______. – I’m (marital status).

Ich bin ledig/verheiratet. – I’m single/married.

Ich habe _______. – I have (children/siblings)

Ich habe ein Kind/zwei Kinder. – I have a child/two children.

Ich habe keine Kinder. – I don’t have children.

Ich habe 3(drei) Geschwister. – I have 3 siblings.

Ich habe keine Geschwister. – I don’t have siblings.

Ich habe einen Bruder/zwei Brüder. – I have a brother/two brothers.

Ich habe eine Schwester/zwei Schwestern. – I have a sister/two sisters.

Ich bin ledig und habe keine Kinder. – I’m single and dont have children.

Ich bin verheiratet und habe 3 Kinder. – I’m married and have 3 children.

Ich habe einen Bruder und zwei Schwester. – I have a brother and 2 sisters.

Ich habe 3 Schwestern. – I have 3 sisters.

More family vocabulary and phrases to talk about family in German

8. Hobbies in German

Mein Hobby ist _______. – My hobby is (hobby).

Meine Hobbys sind _______. – My hobbies are (hobbies).

Mein Hobby ist Musik. – My hobby is music.

Meine Hobbys sind singen und tanzen. – My hobbies are singing and dancing.

Mein Hobby ist Einkaufen. – My hobby is shopping.

9. How to say “I like…/I don’t like…” in German.

To say “I like doing something”

Ich _______ gerne. – I like (doing some activity).

Ich _______ nicht gerne. – I don’t like (doing some activity).

Ich reise gerne. – I like travelling.

Ich koche nicht gerne. – I don’t like cooking.

Ich lese gerne Bücher. – I like reading books.

Ich esse gerne Gemüse. – I like to eat vegetables.

To say “I like something”

Ich mag _______. – I like (something).

Ich mag _______ nicht. – I don’t like (something).

Ich mag Sushi. – I like sushi.

Ich mag Pizza nicht. – I don’t like pizza.

Ich mag Kaffee, aber ich mag Tee nicht. – I like coffee but I don’t like tea.

To talk about your favorite things

Mein Lieblings… ist _______. – My favourite (food/movie/sport) is (name).

Mein Lieblingsessen ist Pizza. – My favorite food is Pizza.

Mein Lieblingssport ist Fußball. – My favorite sport is football.

You can add Lieblings- (favorite) to any word to talk about your favorite things: Lieblingsschauspieler(favorite actor), Lieblingsbuch(favorite book), Lieblingsfilm(favorite movie), Lieblingsgetränk(favorite drink).

Now introduce yourself in German in the comments below!

germanwordoftheday

2 responses to “How to introduce yourself in German (easy PDF script)”

Ich mag diesen Blog. Vielen Dank an den Entwickler

It’s very nice and it is easy to understand but can add some poin like after introduction how to end of introduction phase

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My family’s past, and Germany’s, weighs heavily upon me. And it’s why I feel so strongly about Gaza

I fear we are forgetting lessons from that terrible history

I don’t usually talk about my great-uncle Walter. Gen Walter Warlimont, as my grandfather’s brother was formally known, was head of the national defence department in the high command of the Wehrmacht, the armed forces of Nazi Germany . Only two people were between him and the Führer in the chain of command. Walter worked so closely with Hitler that the failed assassination attempt in July 1944 injured his arm. The orders he signed during wartime – about who to shoot to kill, about how to treat prisoners – meant he had hundreds of thousands of lives on his conscience.

Not that Uncle Walter was the only one in the family who facilitated the Third Reich and the Holocaust . My paternal grandparents were very proud to have been among the very earliest members of Hitler’s party. My maternal grandfather – Walter’s brother – was the head of a factory in Vienna that made the guidance systems for the V2 rocket, a factory that was staffed by Russian and Ukrainian slave labourers.

I’ve never really felt a need to write about my family history before. But Walter’s life and crimes feel uncomfortably relevant right now. As I watch how the debate and discussion over the war in Gaza have played out in Germany, in the months since the horrific attacks of 7 October, I worry that even as we constantly invoke the Nazi past, we are forgetting some crucial lessons from our history.

Support for Israel is sacrosanct in Germany. That’s for good reason. It is entirely natural for Germany to feel burdened by guilt when it comes to the Jewish people; like most Germans, I believe solidarity with the Jewish state that was created after the Holocaust is a sacred obligation. But unlike many in my country, I don’t believe that support for Israel alone fulfils the responsibility placed upon us by the horrors of the past. Instead, I fear that for the sake of the superordinate desire to stand by Israel’s side – a desire that has landed Germany with the accusation at the international court of justice of aiding genocide – we are inadvertently repeating mistakes that have been made before.

What about the lesson that all people’s lives are of equal value? At the peak of Uncle Walter’s career, Germany divided the world between Übermenschen and Untermenschen, superior people and the subhuman. The horrible outcome of that division should imbue Germans with an understanding of the importance of considering all humans as equal – regardless of racial, ethnic or religious background. And yet as I follow discussion of the war in the Middle East and the matter-of-factness with which the number of victims in Gaza has been accepted, I frequently get the impression that this lesson is being forgotten.

Observing it can no longer help the Palestinians who have died in Gaza. But it might help people living in my own country. Germany is now a multi-ethnic, multi-religious nation. It is estimated that there are about 200,000 people of Palestinian origin in our country and millions of other people drawn from across the Middle East. When they see how the war in Gaza is discussed, many of them perceive a world in which Jewish lives appear to matter far more than Arab ones. It is as though the war allows a long suppressed view of the world to resurface in Germany, in which there are superior “western” cultures on the one hand and inferior, less sophisticated ones on the other.

Debate is stifled not just for Palestinian or Muslim protesters, but for everyone. A defensive climate prevails in which simplistic concepts of good and evil are privileged above nuanced analysis. Critics of Israel’s military campaign are routinely defamed as antisemitic.

When Masha Gessen wrote an essay in the New Yorker about the aggressive dogmatism of Germany’s pro-Israel stance, much of the German media reacted with outrage. The essay was reduced to one headline-grabbing comparison – between Gaza and the Nazi-era ghettoes – that appeared in it, which German critics used to accuse the author of downplaying the Holocaust. The Israeli film-maker Yuval Abraham faced similar outrage after he decried Israel’s treatment of Palestinians and called for a ceasefire in a speech at the Berlin film festival. Many other critical voices, especially in the arts and academia, have been disinvited and defunded and find themselves persona non grata almost overnight.

Besides being the great-niece of one of Hitler’s generals, I am also a journalist in London. The reporting on the war in Britain has struck me as freer and more historically grounded than in Germany. Immediately after the Hamas massacre, the German vice-chancellor, Robert Habeck, was widely praised for warning that “contextualisation” of the atrocities could lead to their “relativisation”. The fateful events that led to the redemptive foundation of Israel and the tragedy of the Palestinian Nakba, which are illuminated and argued about in the English-speaking world, are discussed much more timidly in Germany, almost as though looking too closely could undermine the moral certainty of being on the right “side”.

And yet such simplistic thinking appears to be leading my country into forgetting yet another lesson of the Nazi era: the danger of falling prey to rightwing fanatics. I have no doubt that good intentions – fuelled by repentance – underpin the unconditional German support for Israel. But in our desire to paint the world in black and white – with the role of victim reserved for Israelis, who are seen as westerners, and the role of perpetrators assigned to Arabs, seen as other – we find ourselves in perverse alignment with authoritarians: with Benjamin Netanyahu’s rightwing nationalist government, with white nationalists in the US and with the far-right AfD party at home.

The final – and possibly most acute – lesson, which many Germans seem to be suppressing, stems from our own extraordinary postwar experience. After the second world war, and after centuries of atrocities, the vicious circle of revenge was broken in Europe . This was a truly historic achievement from which the Nazi perpetrators benefited more than anyone else.

Look at my family: for all his crimes, Uncle Walter did not face the death penalty. Instead, after six years, the life sentence imposed on my great-uncle in the Nuremberg trials was lifted and he was released in 1954. He died in the 1970s as a wealthy, respected man on the shores of one of Bavaria’s prettiest lakes. His brother, my grandfather Paul Warlimont, was sentenced to only two years in prison for his mistreatment of factory workers. He was later awarded Germany’s Order of Merit. My paternal grandparents, the very early Nazis, were also granted a rich and free postwar life. The clemency extended to all my forebears was clearly not in the service of justice. But it did serve the interests of peace.

In short, during the past eight decades, postwar Europe has prospered thanks to an extraordinary willingness by Germany’s enemies to forgive her crimes and to let the desire for conciliation trump the desire for justice. This experience should obligate us. It should make Germans always and for ever opponents of vengeance and retribution, whether by Palestinians or Israelis. We should not be fanning the flames in the Middle East by committing ourselves to one beleaguered community over another, let alone exporting weapons to the Netanyahu government and backing it at the United Nations. Instead, we should speak humbly of the miracles that abjuring revenge can bring about. We owe it to our history.

Eva Ladipo is a German journalist and novelist based in London

Do you have an opinion on the issues raised in this article? If you would like to submit a response of up to 300 words by email to be considered for publication in our letters section, please click here .

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I raised my son in Germany until he was 6. Now, we're back in the US, and my family is going through reverse culture shock.

• Liz Humphreys moved to Europe with her husband and raised her son in Berlin until he was 6.
• When she moved back to New York, she was surprised by all of the rules surrounding kids.
• She's found advantages to raising children in both cities.

My three-year-old son was busy flattening his piece of clay into a pancake when another ball of clay came flying through the air. It hit him squarely on the back of the head, and he started to cry. My husband and I were sitting nearby at his weekly art class, held in a high-ceilinged, 20th-century building in Prenzlauer Berg, a trendy neighborhood in Berlin .

We turned to see a toddler continuing to throw clay balls. The child's mom was sitting next to her son, not saying anything and simply letting him continue his aggressive antics. I tried to catch her eye, but she refused to make contact. We quietly approached the instructor to ask whether she might step in — as perhaps she wouldn't want clay thrown at other kids in her classroom, after all — but she said resignedly, "That's not my place."

Since my family of three had arrived in Berlin , I had experienced many of these refusals by German parents and other adults to get involved or to correct bad behavior in their children — in playgrounds, on playdates, and on museum visits.

I found that the Berlin attitude around children was, by and large, to let them resolve things among themselves — even for toddlers.

My family has been back in New York City for a year and a half, and we're still struck by all the "rules" surrounding kids here. Not that all these rules are bad. As my now 8-year-old son's second-grade teacher says, "How will kids learn what not to do if we don't teach them?"

Berlin was affordable for raising a family and had great childcare

In 2012, my husband and I moved to Europe from New York City for work. We started in Amsterdam, moved to London — where my son was born — and relocated to Berlin when he was just over a year old. We didn't speak German and had never considered living in Germany.

Right from the get-go, we were amazed by how much further our money went in Berlin. Though rental inventory was tough to come by, we paid $2,900 a month for a three-bed, two-bath duplex with a private roof deck and elevator — a wonderful amount of space to raise a child. That's half the price we're now paying for our much smaller two-bedroom apartment in Manhattan .

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We were also impressed by the affordability of Berlin's childcare. Starting from the age of 1, all kids are entitled to a free day care/preschool combo — called Kita or kindergarten — for a minimum of five to seven hours a day. Working parents, those looking for work or studying, or single parents are eligible for even more: seven to nine hours of daily care. The care is available year-round.

My son was supervised by three teachers and with the same 10 kids every year, which allowed him to make close friends. His school was also bilingual, German and English, so he became fluent in German within a few years, even though we didn't speak it at home.

Also, unlike in most of the US, in Germany, school up until the equivalent of first grade is play-based and very child-driven, with lots of time spent outside.

The public school in New York has been a huge change

When we arrived back in New York, my son started first grade in public school. He was quickly overwhelmed by the more anonymous classroom of about 30 students with one teacher. He also had difficulty adjusting to all of the structure around the school day. He was used to spending more time outdoors and wandering around the classroom as he pleased.

My husband and I were also shocked to learn that school ended at 2:35 p.m. Now in order to work a full day, we have to pay for after-school classes and find options for summer camp.

We also didn't worry much about safety in Berlin. For such a large city, Berlin is exceedingly safe. In the 2024 Safety Index by Global Residence Index , Berlin ranked 46, while New York City was 107. Over there, it's not uncommon to see kids walking on their own to school starting in first or second grade. Back in the US, we would never even think about letting our son take the short walk to school without adult supervision.

There have been positives of being back in New York

Though the reverse culture shock is real, we do still love being back in New York. We appreciate the diversity compared with Germany, both ethnic and socio-economic.

We take advantage of the numerous cultural opportunities for both kids and adults, such as museums and theater. And even though there aren't quite as many playgrounds as in Berlin, we enjoy the welcoming vibe, where it's easy for kids to make friends.

I've also noticed more parents taking ownership of unruly children.

Got a personal essay about relocating a family that you want to share? Get in touch with the editor: [email protected] .

Watch: Why childcare has become so unaffordable

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