Geschwister

siblings

noun ge-SHVIS-ter Rare

Origin: from Schwester with collective prefix ge-

Also means

brothers and sisters

Usage Note

Geschwister is normally used in the plural to mean siblings collectively, without specifying sex. Hast du Geschwister? is the standard way to ask if someone has brothers or sisters. A singular das Geschwister exists but is rare and formal. It is neuter.

Examples

"Wir sind vier Geschwister und verstehen uns sehr gut."

Natural Translation

We are four siblings and get along very well.

Literal Translation

We are four siblings and understand us very good.

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