Dutch Vocabulary: Talking About Family (Familie) 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦

Hoi! One of the most common topics of conversation in any language is family. Whether you are introducing your own family, asking about someone else's, or just making small talk, knowing the right vocabulary is essential. It allows you to connect with people on a more personal level. After learning common phrases and how to talk about time and dates, discussing family is a natural next step.

This lesson will provide you with the essential Dutch vocabulary for talking about your family (familie). We will cover the immediate family, extended family, and other important relationships. Let's get to know the family! ❤️

1. The Immediate Family (Het Gezin)

The term het gezin refers to the nuclear or immediate family unit, typically parents and their children living in the same household.

Dutch	English
de familie	the family (in general)
het gezin	the immediate family / household
de ouders (plural)	the parents
de vader	the father
de moeder	the mother
de kinderen (plural)	the children
de zoon	the son
de dochter	the daughter
de broer	the brother
de zus	the sister

2. The Extended Family (De Familie)

The word familie is used more broadly to include all relatives.

Grandparents and Grandchildren

Dutch	English
de grootouders (plural)	the grandparents
de grootvader / opa	the grandfather / grandpa
de grootmoeder / oma	the grandmother / grandma
de kleinkinderen (plural)	the grandchildren
de kleinzoon	the grandson
de kleindochter	the granddaughter

As you can see, the logic is simple: "groot" (great/grand) is added to "vader" and "moeder". "Opa" and "oma" are much more common in everyday speech.

Aunts, Uncles, and Cousins

Dutch	English
de oom	the uncle
de tante	the aunt
de neef	the cousin (male) / the nephew
de nicht	the cousin (female) / the niece

3. Marital Status and Partners (Burgerlijke Staat)

This vocabulary is useful for describing relationships.

Dutch	English
getrouwd	married
de man / echtgenoot	the husband
de vrouw / echtgenote	the wife
de partner	the partner
de vriend	the boyfriend
de vriendin	the girlfriend
gescheiden	divorced
vrijgezel / single	single

4. In-Laws (Schoonfamilie)

The Dutch word for in-laws is schoonfamilie, which literally translates to "clean family"! The logic is simple: just add schoon- before the family member.

Dutch	English
de schoonouders	the parents-in-law
de schoonvader	the father-in-law
de schoonmoeder	the mother-in-law
de schoonzoon	the son-in-law
de schoondochter	the daughter-in-law
de schoonbroer	the brother-in-law
de schoonzus	the sister-in-law

5. Example Sentences

Let's put some of this vocabulary into practice.

• Dit is mijn vader, Jan. (This is my father, Jan.)
• Ik heb één broer en twee zussen. (I have one brother and two sisters.)
• Mijn oma woont in Amsterdam. (My grandma lives in Amsterdam.)
• Hoe heet jouw echtgenoot? (What is your husband's name?)
• Mijn neef (nephew) is de zoon van mijn zus.

Conclusion

Goed gedaan! You can now confidently talk about your family and ask about others. You've learned the words for your immediate family (gezin), your extended family (familie), and your in-laws (schoonfamilie). Remember the double meaning of neef and nicht, and the contextual difference between vriend and mijn vriend. This vocabulary is personal and practical, and using it will help you form stronger connections with Dutch speakers. Keep practicing! 👍