der Familienangehörige
family member
A person who belongs to a family by birth, marriage, or adoption; a relative.
EXAMPLE
Bei dem Treffen waren alle nahen Familienangehörigen anwesend.
All close family members were present at the meeting.
der Familienangehörige
family member
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Meanings
Usage tips
Word composition
The word consists of 'Familien-' (family) and 'Angehöriger' (member/relative). An 'Angehöriger' is a person who 'belongs' to a group. A 'Familienangehöriger' is therefore literally someone who belongs to the family.
EXAMPLE
Nur direkte Familienangehörige durften ihn im Krankenhaus besuchen.
Only immediate family members were allowed to visit him in the hospital.
Grammatical form
'Familienangehöriger' (family member) is a nominalized adjective and is declined as such. Pay attention to the endings, especially after an article or pronoun.
EXAMPLE
Er ist ein Familienangehöriger von mir.
He is a family member of mine.
Register
This word is often used in formal or official contexts, for example on forms, in the news, or with insurance companies. It sounds more formal than the word 'Verwandter' (relative).
EXAMPLE
Bitte geben Sie einen Familienangehörigen als Notfallkontakt an.
Please provide a family member as an emergency contact.
Compare with
Familienangehörige vs Verwandte
relative
Verwandter and Familienangehöriger can both refer to a man who belongs to the family by birth or marriage. According to the stated meaning, Familienangehöriger explicitly also includes a family member who was adopted; in this case, this term is more appropriate.
Familienangehörige
Mein Adoptivbruder ist seit seiner Adoption ein Familienangehöriger von mir.
Since his adoption, my adoptive brother has been a family member of mine.
Verwandte
Mein Onkel ist durch seine Heirat mit meiner Tante ein Verwandter von mir.
My uncle is a relative of mine because he married my aunt.
In real life
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