German Genealogical Word List English Equivalents

Researching German family history eventually means delving into documents written in German. Records written in German may also be found in  Switzerland, Austria, and parts of Poland, France, Hungary, the Czech Republic, Denmark, and other places that Germans settled. Even if you dont speak or read German, however, you can still make sense of most genealogical documents found in Germany with the understanding of a few key German words. Common English genealogy terms, including record types, events, dates, and relationships are listed here, along with German words with similar meanings, such as words commonly used in Germany to indicate marriage, including marry, marriage, wedding, wedlock, and unite. Record Types Birth Certificate - Geburtsurkunde, GeburtsscheinCensus - Volkszà ¤hlung, Volkszà ¤hlungslisteChurch Register - Kirchenbuch, Kirchenreister, Kirchenrodel, PfarrbuchCivil Registry - StandesamtDeath Certificate - Sterbeurkunde, TotenscheinMarriage Certificate - HeiratsurkundeMarriage Register - HeiratsbuchMilitary - Milità ¤r, Armee (army), Soldaten (soldier) Family Events Baptism / Christening -Taufe, Taufen, GetaufteBirth - Geburten, Geburtsregister, Geborene, geborenBurial - Beerdigung, Beerdigt, Begraben, Begrà ¤bnis, BestattetConfirmation - Konfirmation, FirmungenDeath - Tot, Tod, Sterben, Starb, Verstorben, Gestorben, Sterbefà ¤lleDivorce - Scheidung, EhescheidungMarriage - Ehe, Heiraten, Kopulation, EheschließungMarriage Banns - Proklamationen, Aufgebote, Verkà ¼ndigungenMarriage Ceremony, Wedding - Hochzeit, Trauungen Family Relationships Ancestor - Ahnen, Vorfahre, VorfahrinAunt - TanteBrother - Bruder, Brà ¼derBrother-in-law - Schwager, Schwà ¤gerChild - Kind, KinderCousin - Cousin, Cousins, Vetter (male), Kusine, Kusinen, Base (female)Daughter - Tochter, Tà ¶chterDaughter-in-law - Schwiegertochter, Schwiegertà ¶chterDescendant - Abkà ¶mmling, Nachkomme, NachkommenschaftFather - Vater, Và ¤terGranddaughter - EnkelinGrandfather - GroßvaterGrandmother - GroßmutterGrandson - EnkelGreat-grandfather - UrgroßvaterGreat-grandmother - UrgroßmutterHusband - Mann, Ehemann, GatteMother - MutterOrphan - Waise, VollwaiseParents - ElternSister - SchwesterSon - Sohn, Sà ¶hneUncle - Onkel, OheimWife - Frau, Ehefrau, Ehegattin, Weib, Hausfrau, Gattin Dates Date - DatumDay - TagMonth - MonatWeek - WocheYear - JahrMorning - Morgen, VormittagsNight - NachtJanuary - Januar, Jà ¤nnerFebruary - Februar, FeberMarch - Mà ¤rzApril - AprilMay - MaiJune - JuniJuly - JuliAugust - August,September - September (7ber, 7bris)October - Oktober (8ber, 8bris)November - November (9ber, 9bris)December - Dezember (10ber, 10bris, Xber, Xbris) Numbers One (first) - eins (erste)Two (second) - zwei (zweite)Three (third) - drei or dreà ¿ (dritte)Four (fourth) - vier (vierte)Five (fifth) -  fà ¼nf (fà ¼nfte)Six (sixth) - sechs (sechste)Seven (seventh) - sieben (siebte)Eight (eighth) - acht (achte)Nine (ninth) - neun (neunte)Ten (tenth) - zehn (zehnte)Eleven (eleventh) - elf or eilf (elfte or eilfte)Twelve (twelfth) -  zwà ¶lf (zwà ¶lfte)Thirteen (thirteenth) - dreizehn (dreizehnte)Fourteen (fourteenth) - vierzehn (vierzehnte)Fifteen (fifteenth) -  fà ¼nfzehn (fà ¼nfzehnte)Sixteen (sixteenth) - sechzehn (sechzehnte)Seventeen (seventeenth) - siebzehn (siebzehnte)Eighteen (eighteenth) - achtzehn (achtzehnte)Nineteen (nineteenth) - neunzehn (neunzehnte)Twenty (twentieth) - zwanzig (zwanzigste)Twenty-one (twenty-first) - einundzwanzig (einundzwanzigste)Twenty-two (twenty-second) -  zweiundzwanzig (zweiundzwanzigste)Twenty-three (twenty-third) -  dreiundzwanzig (dreiundzwanzigste)Twenty-four (twenty-fourth) -  vierundzwan zig (vierundzwanzigste)Twenty-five (twenty-fifth) -  fà ¼nfundzwanzig (fà ¼nfundzwanzigste)Twenty-six (twenty-sixth) -  sechsundzwanzig (sechsundzwanzigste)Twenty-seven (twenty-seventh) -  siebenundzwanzig (siebenundzwanzigste)Twenty-eight (twenty-eighth) -  achtundzwanzig (achtundzwanzigste)Twenty-nine (twenty-ninth) -  neunundzwanzig (neunundzwanzigste)Thirty (thirtieth) -  dreißig (dreißigste)Forty (fortieth) -  vierzig (vierzigste)Fifty (fiftieth) -  fà ¼nfzig (fà ¼nfzigste)Sixty (sixtieth) -  sechzig (sechzigste)Seventy (seventieth) -  siebzig (siebzigste)Eighty (eightieth) -  achtzig (achtzigste)Ninety (ninetieth) -  neunzig (neunzigste)One hundred (one hundredth) -  hundert or  einhundert (hundertste or einhundertste)One thousand (one thousandth) - tausend or eintausend (tausendste or eintausendste) Other Common German Genealogical Terms Archive - ArchivCatholic - KatholischEmigrant, Emigration - Auswanderer, AuswanderungFamily Tree, Pedigree - Stammbaum, AhnentafelGenealogy - Genealogie, AhnenforschungImmigrant, Immigration - Einwanderer, EinwanderungIndex - Verzeichnis, RegisterJewish - Jà ¼disch, JudeName, given - Name, Vorname, TaufnameName, maiden - Geburtsname, Mà ¤dchennameName, surname - Nachname, Familienname, Geschlechtsname, SunameParish - Pfarrei, Kirchensprengel, KirchspielProtestant - Protestantisch, Protestant, Evangelisch, Lutherisch For more common genealogy terms in German, along with their English translations, see German Genealogical Word List at FamilySearch.com.