Stiefmutter

stepmother

noun SHTEEF-moot-ter Rare

Usage Note

Stiefmutter denotes a father's later wife who is not one's biological mother. The Stief- prefix builds the whole step-family vocabulary: Stiefvater, Stiefkind, Stiefbruder. The plural is Stiefmütter with umlaut. Fairy tales gave the word its sometimes negative connotation.

Examples

"Ihre Stiefmutter behandelte sie wie eine eigene Tochter."

Natural Translation

Her stepmother treated her like her own daughter.

Literal Translation

Her stepmother treated her like an own daughter.

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