Language/Danish/Vocabulary/Family-Members
In this lesson, we will learn the Danish words for different family members. Building from the previous lessons on basic Danish vocabulary, grammar and pronunciation, we will now expand our knowledge to cover relationships and kinship terms. Let's dive in!
Consider exploring these related pages after completing this lesson: Days of the Week & Animals.
Family Members
Family is an important part of Danish culture. Therefore, it is important to know how to refer to different members of the family in Danish.
Immediate Family
The word for family in Danish is "familie". When referring to immediate family members such as mother, father, brother, and sister, we use the following words:
| Danish | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| Mor | morr | Mother |
| Far | fahr | Father |
| Bror | brohr | Brother |
| Søster | seustr | Sister |
- It is important to note that unlike in English, Danish does not use gender-neutral terms like "parent" or "child."
- To identify if the brother or sister is older or younger, we use "lille" for younger and "store" for older. For example, "lillebror" means younger brother while "storebror" means older brother.
Extended Family
Now that we know how to refer to immediate family members in Danish, let's move on to extended family members:
| Danish | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| Bedstefar | bæstefarr | Grandfather (paternal) |
| Bedstemor | bæstæmoor | Grandmother (paternal) |
| Farmor | farrmoor | Grandmother (maternal) |
| Farfar | fahrfarr | Grandfather (maternal) |
| Onkel | ohnkel | Uncle |
| Faster | fastr | Aunt |
| Fætter | fetter | Cousin (male) |
| Kusine | kusine | Cousin (female) |
- Notice that in Danish, to specify if the grandparents are from the father's side or the mother's side, they use "far" for father and "mor" for mother, which is the equivalent of adding "-ernal" or "-ternal" in English. Thus, for paternal grandfather, we use "bedstefar" while for maternal grandfather, we use "farfar".
- Also, as in English, the terms "uncle" and "aunt" can be used for siblings of either parent. However, in Danish, it is more common to use "onkel" and "faster" respectively.
Conclusion
In this lesson, we learned several Danish words for family members, including immediate and extended family members. The Danish language has a unique way of showing kinship terms, which we have explored. Now, you are one step closer to mastering Danish! Next up is "Relationships". In the meantime, practice these words and try using them in sentences to solidify your understanding. Jeg håber at se dig snart! (Hope to see you soon!)
Having concluded this lesson, consider checking out these related pages: Transportation & Food in Danish.
Other Lessons
- Beverages
- Colors
- Modes of Transportation
- Animals
- Nature
- Useful Expression in Danish
- Idiomatic Expressions
- Places in a City
- Travel Vocabulary
- Days of the Week
Sources
- 30+ Easy Danish Vocabulary For Family That You Must Know - Ling ...
- Family words in Danish
- How To Talk About Family In Danish