Sprachfamilie

language family

noun SHPRAHKH-fa-mee-lye Rare

Usage Note

Sprachfamilie is a group of languages descended from a common ancestral language. German belongs to the germanische Sprachfamilie within the Indo-European group. Knowing a language's Sprachfamilie helps predict vocabulary similarities.

Examples

"Deutsch, Englisch und Niederländisch gehören derselben Sprachfamilie an."

Natural Translation

German, English, and Dutch belong to the same language family.

Literal Translation

German, English, and Dutch belong the-same language-family to.

Free starter pack

Building your German vocabulary?

Get the 100 most common German words as a free PDF — one email, no spam.

Related Words

Explore German by topic

GermanNow

German Separable Verbs: When the Prefix Splits

German separable verbs split in two: the verb stays near the front and the prefix flies to the end. Learn the stress test and where every piece goes.

June 5, 2026 5 min read

GermanNow

German Compound Words: How to Read Any Long Word

Read any long German word by working right-to-left: the last noun sets the meaning and gender, and the small linking letters are just glue. Here's the drill.

June 9, 2026 6 min read

GermanNow

German False Friends: 25 Words That Trick You

German false friends like Gift (poison) and bekommen (to receive) trick English speakers daily. Here are 25 words that mean the opposite of what you'd guess.

June 5, 2026 5 min read

GermanNow

German Numbers 1–100: Why 21 Is Said Backwards

German numbers 1 to 100 reverse the digits: 21 is einundzwanzig (one-and-twenty). Learn the und rule, the irregulars, and how to hear prices fast.

June 5, 2026 6 min read