German for Beginners: Politely Asking About Someone's Family
Learn to ask 'Do you have any siblings?' and 'What do your parents do?' in German, using polite question forms and showing interest in the other person's family.
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In this lesson, you will learn how to ask someone about their family in German. You will focus on two common questions: asking if someone has siblings and asking what their parents do for a living. You will also learn how to show interest and respond politely. This is different from talking about your own family because you need to use question forms and the correct verb conjugations. By the end, you will be able to have a simple, polite conversation about family in German.
By the end, you can…
- ask someone if they have siblings in German.
- ask what someone's parents do for a living.
- show interest and respond politely when someone talks about their family.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
Hast du Geschwister?
Do you have any siblings?
hahst doo guh-SHVISS-ter
Use with friends, family, or people your age. 'Geschwister' is plural and means siblings (brothers and/or sisters).
Was machen deine Eltern?
What do your parents do?
vahs MAH-khen DY-nuh EL-tern
This asks about professions or activities. 'Eltern' is plural and means parents.
Hast du Brüder oder Schwestern?
Do you have brothers or sisters?
hahst doo BREW-der OH-der SHVESS-tern
A more specific way to ask about siblings. Use if you want to know the gender.
Was macht dein Vater?
What does your father do?
vahs mahkt dyn FAH-ter
Use 'dein' for informal 'your' with masculine nouns. For mother, say 'Was macht deine Mutter?'
Interessant! Erzähl mir mehr.
Interesting! Tell me more.
in-teh-ress-AHNT! air-TSEHL meer mair
A polite way to show interest and encourage the other person to continue.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
To ask yes/no questions in German, you often start with the verb. For example, 'Hast du Geschwister?' (Do you have siblings?) uses 'hast' (have) before 'du' (you). For information questions, use a question word like 'was' (what) at the beginning: 'Was machen deine Eltern?' (What do your parents do?). Note that 'dein' changes form: 'dein Vater' (your father) but 'deine Eltern' (your parents) because 'Eltern' is plural.
When to use it
Use these questions in casual conversations with friends, classmates, or acquaintances. They are polite and show interest. However, in formal situations with strangers or older people, use the formal 'Sie' form: 'Haben Sie Geschwister?' and 'Was machen Ihre Eltern?'. Also, be aware that asking about parents' jobs might be sensitive in some contexts; it's fine in friendly chats but avoid it in very formal or professional settings unless the other person brings it up.
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
Hast du Geschwister?
Do you have any siblings?hahst doo guh-SHVISS-terJa, ich habe einen Bruder und eine Schwester.
Yes, I have a brother and a sister.yah, ikh HAH-buh AY-nen BREW-der oont AY-nuh SHVESS-terSchön! Was machen deine Eltern?
Nice! What do your parents do?shurn! vahs MAH-khen DY-nuh EL-ternMein Vater ist Lehrer und meine Mutter ist Ärztin.
My father is a teacher and my mother is a doctor.myn FAH-ter ist LAY-rer oont MY-nuh MOO-ter ist AIRTS-tinA little context goes a long way
In German-speaking countries, asking about family is common in casual settings, but it's considered polite to first establish a friendly tone. Use 'du' with peers, friends, and family; use 'Sie' with strangers, older people, or in professional contexts. Directly asking about parents' professions is generally acceptable among friends, but in more formal situations, it's better to let the other person volunteer that information. Also, regional differences exist: in some areas, people might be more reserved initially, so showing genuine interest with phrases like 'Interessant!' helps.
One thing to watch for
Using 'Was machst du Eltern?' to ask what your parents do.
Try this instead: The correct question is 'Was machen deine Eltern?' because 'Eltern' is plural, so the verb must be 'machen' (they do) and the possessive is 'deine' (your, plural). 'Du' means 'you' singular, so 'machst du' would mean 'do you do', which is wrong here.
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1How do you ask a friend if they have siblings?
Show a sample answer
Hast du Geschwister?
This is the standard informal question. You could also ask 'Hast du Brüder oder Schwestern?' if you want to be more specific.
2Translate: 'What do your parents do?' (informal)
Show a sample answer
Was machen deine Eltern?
This uses the plural verb 'machen' and the plural possessive 'deine'. For formal, it would be 'Was machen Ihre Eltern?'
3What is a polite way to show interest after someone tells you about their family?
Show a sample answer
Interessant! Erzähl mir mehr.
This phrase encourages the speaker to continue and shows you are listening. Other options include 'Das ist ja spannend!' (That's exciting!) or 'Wirklich?' (Really?).
To ask about family in German, remember to use the correct verb forms and possessive articles: 'Hast du Geschwister?' and 'Was machen deine Eltern?' are key questions. Always match the verb to the subject and use 'dein/deine' for informal 'your'. Show interest with phrases like 'Interessant!' and adjust to formal 'Sie' when needed.
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