German word

Schwester

Pronunciation

IPA/ˈʃvɛstɐ/

Meaning

  • feminine nounsister

Example

Ich habe zwei Schwestern.

I've got two sisters.

Illustration for Schwester (sister)

More examples

Am Wochenende fahre ich zu meinen Schwestern.

At the weekend, I go to my sisters' place.

Core concept

A woman connected to another person through family, caregiving, or a religious community.

Common phrases

  • zwei Schwestern

    two sisters

  • mit meinen Schwestern

    with my sisters

  • bei meinen Schwestern

    at my sisters' place

Similar words

Bruder: A male sibling who shares the same parents.
Tochter: A female child born to a particular parent.
Geschwister: A collective term for brothers and sisters.
Mutter: A woman who gave birth to a person.

Definition in German

Weibliche Person, die mit einer anderen Person durch gemeinsame Eltern als Schwester verwandt ist.

Word origin

German Schwester continues Old High German swester and Proto-Germanic *swestēr, making it cognate with English sister.

Usage tips

  • In a hospital, die Schwester can refer to a nurse, while meine Schwester clearly signals a family relationship.

Other meanings

  • nursenoun
  • nunnoun

Opposites

  • Brüderbrothersnoun

Related words

Word lists with this word