single-parent
Loading your saved state.
single-parent
Describes a person who raises and cares for one or more children without a partner.
Als alleinerziehende Mutter hat sie oft wenig Zeit für sich selbst.
As a single mother, she often has little time for herself.
The word is a compound of 'allein' (alone) and 'erziehend' (raising/bringing up). 'Erziehend' is the present participle of the verb 'erziehen' (to raise/bring up). Literally, it therefore means 'a person who raises children alone.'
Er ist seit fünf Jahren alleinerziehender Vater.
He has been a single father for five years.
The adjective 'alleinerziehend' (single-parent) is very often used as a noun to refer to the person. In that case, people say 'der Alleinerziehende' (the male single parent) or 'die Alleinerziehende' (the female single parent).
Für Alleinerziehende gibt es besondere staatliche Unterstützung.
There is special state support for single parents.
The word can also stand after a verb like 'sein' (to be) or 'bleiben' (to remain) to describe a person's situation. In this case, the adjective is not declined.
Nach der Trennung war sie plötzlich alleinerziehend.
After the separation, she was suddenly a single parent.
single / free
'alleinerziehend' and 'ledig' can both refer to a person without a spouse, but they do not mean the same thing. 'alleinerziehend' is used when someone takes care of one or more children in everyday life without a partner. 'ledig' only describes the official marital status: the person is not married. A 'ledig' person does not have to have children. An 'alleinerziehend' person can be single, divorced, or widowed. The confusion arises because both words often appear in forms or conversations about family.
Meine Nachbarin ist alleinerziehend und bringt ihre zwei Kinder jeden Morgen zur Schule.
My neighbor is a single parent and takes her two children to school every morning.
Im Formular kreuzte Paul beim Familienstand „ledig“ an.
On the form, Paul ticked 'single' for his marital status.