Vocabulary
der
Familienname
/faˈmiːli̯ənˌnaːmə/· noun· Pl. die Familiennamen
surname, family name
Your surname: forms ask for it (Familienname, Nachname or just Name — all the same), and officials, doctors and teachers use it with Herr or Frau. In a waiting room you'll hear it called: „Frau Kaya, bitte!“ When people speak, Nachname is more common.
CEFR A1Frequency ●●●●●
Your memory
New
Learning
Familiar
Strong
Mastered
Forms
- Singular
- der Familienname
- Plural
- die Familiennamen
- Genitiv
- des Familiennamens
- n-Deklination (like Name)
- den Familiennamen · dem Familiennamen · des Familiennamens
One word, many lives
Tap a meaning. Real German isn't a dictionary translation.
Familienname
surname (on forms; the same as Nachname)
Mein Familienname ist Kaya.
My surname is Kaya.
Word family
Familiennamedie Familiefamilyder Namenameder Vornamefirst nameder Nachnamesurname (the same, more common when speaking)der Geburtsnamename at birth, maiden name
Common combinations
- Wie ist Ihr Familienname?What's your surname? (polite)
- Vorname und Familiennamefirst name and surname
- den Familiennamen buchstabierento spell your surname
Similar & opposite
≈ Synonyms
NachnameName (on forms)
Common learner mistakes
- Name: Elif (on a German form)Name: Kaya · Vorname: ElifOn German forms, „Name“ usually means the family name. Your first name goes under „Vorname“.
- Hallo, Frau Elif!Guten Tag, Frau Kaya!Herr and Frau always go with the family name, not the first name.
Real examples
- Mein Familienname ist Haddad.My surname is Haddad.
- Wie ist Ihr Familienname, bitte? — Weber.What's your surname, please? — Weber.
- Ich heiße Elif Kaya. Kaya ist mein Familienname.My name is Elif Kaya. Kaya is my surname.
