clan / extended family
die Sippe, die Sippen
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extended family
An extended family group that goes beyond the nuclear family and often also includes distant relatives; a clan.
Zur goldenen Hochzeit kam die ganze Sippe aus dem ganzen Land zusammen.
For the golden wedding anniversary, the whole extended family came together from all over the country.
bunch / lot
Colloquial and often derogatory for a group of people perceived as an unpleasant or negative clique.
Mit dieser arroganten Sippe will ich wirklich nichts zu tun haben.
I really want nothing to do with that arrogant bunch.
| gender | feminine die |
|---|---|
| plural | die Sippen |
| genitive | der Sippe |
| singular | plural | |
|---|---|---|
| nominative | die Sippe | die Sippen |
| accusative | die Sippe | die Sippen |
| dative | der Sippe | den Sippen |
| genitive | der Sippe | der Sippen |
The article changes with the case; it is shown in colour.
You can tell from the context whether the neutral or the derogatory meaning is intended. If it is about family celebrations, it means the extended family. In connection with negative adjectives such as 'arrogant' (arrogant) or 'unerträglich' (unbearable), it is a derogatory term for a group.
Zu Omas Geburtstag reiste wieder die ganze Sippe an.
For Grandma's birthday, the whole extended family arrived again.
In the meaning 'erweiterte Familie' (extended family), 'Sippe' is often used today in a slightly colloquial or humorous way. It sounds less formal than, for example, 'die Verwandtschaft' (the relatives).
An Weihnachten trifft sich bei uns immer die halbe Sippe.
At Christmas, half the extended family always gets together at our place.
This meaning is purely colloquial and has a strongly negative, derogatory connotation. Use the word in this sense only if you deliberately want to insult a group of people.
Er nannte die Kollegen der anderen Abteilung eine furchtbare Sippe.
He called the colleagues from the other department a terrible bunch.
family
Familie is the neutral term for one’s relatives. Sippe can refer to the same extended group, but presents it more as a closely connected clan and can sometimes sound humorous or derogatory. Without this additional connotation, Familie is the better choice.
Anna sagt scherzhaft, dass zu ihrem Geburtstag die ganze Sippe kommt.
Anna jokingly says that the whole clan is coming to her birthday.
Zu Annas Geburtstag kommt ihre ganze Familie, auch entfernte Verwandte.
Anna’s whole family is coming to her birthday, including distant relatives.
