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German Genealogy Terms Reference Charts (+ Free Downloads)

By Family Tree Editors
Free German genealogy terms forms.

These translations of common German genealogy terms can be a big help when researching your ancestors, from reviewing documents to looking through an old family journal.

Download your free PDF of our German Genealogy Terms Reference Chart by clicking the button below each list. They’re perfect for keeping on your computer desktop or in your research binders!

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Numbers
Months and Days
Family Relationships
Essential Genealogy Terms
German Nobility Terms

Numbers

GermanEnglish
einsone
zweitwo
dreithree
vierfour
fünffive
sechssix
siebenseven
achteight
neunnine
zehnten
elfeleven
zwölftwelve
dreizehnthirteen
vierzehnfourteen
fünfzehnfifteen
sechszehnsixteen
siebzehnseventeen
achtzehneighteen
neunzehnnineteen
zwanzigtwenty
dreißigthirty
vierzigforty
fünfzigfifty
sechzigsixty
siebzigseventy
achtzigeighty
neunzigninety
hundertone hundred
tausendone thousand

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Months and Days

GermanEnglish
Jahryear
Monatmonth
Tagday
JanuarJanuary
FebruarFebruary
MarzMarch
AprilApril
MaiMay
JuniJune
JuliJuly
AugustAugust
SeptemberSeptember
OktoberOctober
NovemberNovember
DezemberDecember
MontagMonday
DienstagTuesday
MittwochWednesday
DonnerstagThursday
FreitagFriday
Samstag, SonnabendSaturday
SonntagSunday

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Family Relationships

GermanEnglish
Bruderbrother
Cousin, Vettercousin (male)
Elternparents
Enkelin, Enkelgranddaughter, grandson
Familiefamily
Frau, Gattinwife
Grossmutter, -vatergrandmother, grandfather
Kindchild
Kusine, Basecousin (female)
Mann, Gattehusband
Muttermother
Neffenephew
Nichteniece
Onkeluncle
Schwägerin, Schwägersister-in-law, brother-in-law
Schwestersister
Schwiegermutter, -vatermother-in-law, father-in-law
Stiefmutter, -vaterstepmother, stepfather
Tanteaunt
Urgrossmutter, -vatergreat-grandmother, great-grandfather
Vaterfather
Waiseorphan
Witwe, Witwer
widow, widower

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Essential German Genealogy Terms

GermanEnglish
Aktdocument
Standesamtcivil registry
Taufebaptism
Geburtbirth
Ehe, Hochzeit, Heiratmarriage
Scheidungdivorce
Toddeath
Grabgrave
Bestattungburial
Vornamefirst name
Name, Zuname, Familiennamesurname
Geburtsname, Mädchennamemaiden name
Stadtcity
Dorfsmall town
Landstate
Bezirk, Kreisdistrict
Pfarrei, Kirchspiel, Gemeindeparish

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German Nobility Terms

Fürstentum: Principality—that is, a territory ruled by a Fürst, German for prince.

Grafschaft: Often translated as “county,” which gives an incorrect sense of the word in English. A Grafschaft was ruled by a Graf, German for count, so “countship” might be a better translation.

Gross Herzogtum: Grand duchy

Herrschaft: Land ruled by a local lord, or Herr.

Herzogtum: German for duchy, ruled by a Herzog (duke).

Königreich: Territory ruled by a König (king). In deference to the Holy Roman Emperor, only the king of Bohemia was allowed this title within the empire until the Elector of Brandenburg conquered Prussia. Initially, the elector could use only the title “King in Prussia” because the Prussian lands were considered outside the empire’s jurisdiction.

Kurfürstum: A principality whose prince was also one of the electors of the Holy Roman Emperor. The prefix Kur– was also sometimes added to the name of an elector’s territory, such as Kurpfalz for the “electoral Palatinate.”

Reichstadt: A free imperial city of the Holy Roman Empire.

Rittergut: A knight’s estate, which at times was an independent territory.

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