Geschwister
/ɡəˈʃvɪstər/plural
The German phrase for sibling is Geschwister. Wiktionary also lists Bruder and Schwester.
Meaning: person who shares same parents (noun)
Ways to say it
| German | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Geschwister | /ɡəˈʃvɪstər/ | plural |
| Bruder | /ˈbruːdɐ/ | |
| Schwester | /ˈʃvɛstɐ/ | |
| Geschwisterkind | /ɡəˈʃvɪstərˌkɪnt/ | neuter |
The term refers to a person who shares the same parents.
Which one should you use?
Geschwister is the plural form used to refer to siblings. To refer to a single sibling in the singular, you must use the word Geschwisterkind. For specific genders, you can use Bruder for a brother or Schwester for a sister.
How does it change in a sentence?
To express the singular, you must use Geschwisterkind, which is a neuter noun.
How do you pronounce it?
/ɡəˈʃvɪstər/
What mistakes should you avoid?
Do not use Geschwister to refer to a single sibling. Instead, use the singular form Geschwisterkind.
Did you know?
- The German word Geschwister is essentially a combination of a prefix and the word for 'sister', making the very concept of siblings linguistically tied to the female term.
- The prefix ge- in Geschwister is used in German to create collective nouns, grouping individuals into a single category.
- Because Geschwisterkind is a neuter noun, you must use the pronoun 'es' instead of 'er' or 'sie' when referring to a single sibling of unknown gender.
Examples in context
- Wo ist dein Geschwisterkind?Where is your sibling?This sentence is useful for asking about a single Geschwisterkind.Tatoeba #6217644 by al_ex_an_der, translation #6151007 by RobinvanderVliet
- Du bist klüger als dein Bruder.You're smarter than your sibling.This sentence uses Bruder to compare someone to a brother.Tatoeba #12440926 by Waldelfe, translation #8619085 by alpucca
- Vladimir will ein Geschwisterkind.Vladimir wants a sibling.This sentence expresses a desire for a single Geschwisterkind.Tatoeba #11936523 by Naina, translation #11936492 by Amastan
- Mein Bruder ist sechs Jahre älter als ich.My brother is six years older than me.
- Meine Schwester hat heute Geburtstag.My sister has her birthday today.
- Hey Brudi, was hältst du davon, ins Kino zu gehen?Hey bro, what do you think about going to the movies?
- 12 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Two friends are talking about their families.
- FelixHast du Geschwister?Do you have siblings?
- LauraJa, ich habe zwei Geschwister.Yes, I have two siblings.
- FelixSind deine Geschwister älter als du?Are your siblings older than you?
- LauraNein, ich bin die Älteste.No, I am the oldest.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “sibling” translations and entries Geschwister, Bruder, Schwester, Geschwisterkind, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries Bruder, Geschwister, Geschwisterkind, Schwester, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
