How to Introduce Family Members and Ask About Them in German

Talking about family is one of the first topics people often discuss when getting to know each other. Learning how to introduce your family members and ask about someone else’s in German can make your conversations more natural and friendly. This guide will cover useful phrases, examples, and translations to help you get started.

Introducing Family Members in German

When introducing family members, a simple and common structure is:

“Das ist mein…” (for masculine or neuter nouns)
“Das ist meine…” (for feminine nouns)

Here are some examples:

• Das ist mein Vater. – This is my father.

• Das ist meine Mutter. – This is my mother.

• Das ist mein Bruder. – This is my brother.

• Das ist meine Schwester. – This is my sister.

Tip: Pay attention to the gender of the family member because it determines whether you use mein or meine.

Asking About Someone’s Family in German

If you want to ask about someone’s family, you can choose between informal and formal expressions:

• Informal: Wie geht es deinem/deiner …? – How is your …?

• Formal: Wie geht es Ihrem/Ihrer …? – How is your …?

Examples:

• Wie geht es deinem Vater? – How is your father?

• Wie geht es deiner Mutter? – How is your mother?

• Wie geht es deinem Bruder? – How is your brother?

Using these phrases shows politeness and interest in the other person’s family.

Example Conversation in German and English

Here’s a simple conversation to see these phrases in context:

Person A: Hallo, das ist meine Mutter.
(Hello, this is my mother.)

Person B: Hallo, freut mich, Sie kennenzulernen. Wie geht es Ihnen?
(Hello, nice to meet you. How are you?)

Person C: Es geht mir gut, danke. Und wie geht es Ihnen?
(I’m good, thank you. And how are you?)

Person B: Mir geht es auch gut, danke. Und wie geht es Ihrem Vater?
(I’m also good, thank you. How is your father?)

Person A: Meinem Vater geht es gut, danke für die Frage.
(My father is good, thank you for asking.)

This short exchange demonstrates how to introduce a family member, ask about someone else’s family, and respond politely.

Final Tips

Learning these basic phrases will help you confidently talk about family in German. Whether you are a beginner or want to refresh your skills, practicing these sentences will make your conversations feel more natural. Remember to adjust the phrasing depending on whether you are speaking formally or informally.

By practicing introductions and polite questions, you can connect with people on a personal level and show genuine interest in their lives.