01
die Schwiegermutter
mother-in-law
The mother of one's husband or wife.
example
Am Wochenende besuchen wir meine Schwiegermutter auf dem Land.
At the weekend, we're visiting my mother-in-law in the countryside.
die Schwiegermutter
mother-in-law
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Meanings
Usage tips
Word structure
The part 'Schwieger-' (in-law) refers to a family relationship created through marriage. You can also use this pattern for other family members: 'Schwiegervater' (father-in-law), 'Schwiegersohn' (son-in-law), 'Schwiegertochter' (daughter-in-law).
EXAMPLE
Mein Schwiegervater und meine Schwiegermutter kommen aus Italien.
My father-in-law and my mother-in-law are from Italy.
Usage pattern
To make the relationship clear, the word is usually used with a possessive pronoun (meine, deine, seine ...) or with the genitive.
EXAMPLE
Meine Schwiegermutter kocht den besten Apfelkuchen.
My mother-in-law makes the best apple cake.
Cultural context
The figure of the mother-in-law is, in German-speaking countries as in other cultures, a common character in jokes and clichés. These jokes often deal with a difficult relationship between the mother-in-law and the son-in-law or daughter-in-law.
EXAMPLE
Er erzählte einen alten Witz über seine Schwiegermutter.
He told an old joke about his mother-in-law.
Compare with
Schwiegermutter vs Mutter
mother / nut
'die Mutter' and 'die Schwiegermutter' both belong to the family, but they refer to different people. 'die Mutter' is your own mother, that is, the mother of a child. 'die Schwiegermutter' is the mother of your husband or wife. The words can be confused because both contain 'Mutter'. The important thing is the relationship: your mother belongs directly to your family of origin. Your mother-in-law belongs to your family through your marriage or partnership.
Schwiegermutter
Nele telefoniert am Montag mit ihrer Schwiegermutter wegen des Familienessens.
On Monday, Nele talks on the phone with her mother-in-law about the family dinner.
Mutter
Nach der Arbeit besucht Tom seine Mutter und hilft ihr im Garten.
After work, Tom visits his mother and helps her in the garden.
In real life
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