21 December 2025
How do you say son in German?
The German word for son is der Sohn.
Sohn in German is a core family noun, used just like its English counterpart. It’s used in introductions, legal forms, and conversations about parenting, childhood, and family history.
It’s one of the 1000 most frequently used nouns in German (get the free illustrated PDF to explore them all).
Gender and Pronunciation
It’s a masculine noun: der Sohn.
Need help with gender memorization? This video lesson shows you how to learn them fast and reliably.
Pronunciation:
Sohn is pronounced [zohn]
-
The o is long and steady, without the vowel glide in American tone.
-
Starts with an English “z” sound - German s before a vowel is voiced
One syllable: ZOHN
Example sentences
Mein Sohn ist sieben Jahre alt.
My son is seven years old.
Sie haben zwei Söhne und eine Tochter.
They have two sons and a daughter.
Ich bin der Sohn von Anna und Peter.
I’m the son of Anna and Peter.
How does this word come up in real conversations?
“Wie alt ist dein Sohn jetzt?”
How old is your son now?
“Der Sohn meiner Freundin ist total süß.”
My friend’s son is super cute.
“Sie kümmert sich liebevoll um ihren Sohn.”
She takes loving care of her son.
Sample Dialogue (Beginner Level)
Eva: Du hast Kinder, oder?
Nils: Ja, einen Sohn - er ist vier.
Eva: Wie heißt er?
Nils: Jonas. Ein echter Wirbelwind!
Translation:
Eva: You have kids, right?
Nils: Yes, one son - he’s four.
Eva: What’s his name?
Nils: Jonas. A real whirlwind!
Dingsies are cute but very dumb. Guide them through the correct German words towards safety! The more you play, the better your German gets!
Grammatical case examples
Nominative:
Der Sohn schläft noch.
The son is still sleeping.
Accusative:
Ich rufe meinen Sohn an.
I’m calling my son.
Dative:
Ich gebe dem Sohn ein Geschenk.
I give the son a gift.
Genitive:
Der Geburtstag des Sohnes ist morgen.
The son’s birthday is tomorrow.
Other ways to say son in German
While Sohn is the direct and neutral word for son in German, diminutive forms like Söhnchen or Sohnemann may be used affectionately, especially by parents. In religious or historical contexts, you might see Sohn Gottes (Son of God) or Königssohn (prince, literally “king’s son”). In legal documents, the phrasing often uses Sohn von… to indicate parentage.
Word variations and tidbits
Sohn shows up in compound words like Schwiegersohn (son-in-law), Stiefsohn (stepson), Pflegesohn (foster son), Adoptivsohn (adopted son), and Ziehsohn (a boy raised as a son, also figuratively a protégé). There’s also Sohnemann, a slightly cheeky or affectionate term. In religious contexts, der verlorene Sohn (the prodigal son) is a well-known figure, often quoted or referenced metaphorically.
Der Sohn, die Söhne - masculine, umlauted plural. Family vocab is some of the highest-frequency German you’ll ever use, so getting the articles fully automatic pays off fast. A few rounds of der die das practice a day is enough.
🎥 Want to nurture your German like a language Sohn? Our free video course teaches the top 1000 German nouns - step by step, clearly, and with a printable PDF.
Ready for more German Words of the Day?
Do you know what Soldat means? Many a Sohn becomes one.
And what about Socke? That’s what every Sohn loses at least once a week.
Free download
Get the 1000 Most Frequently Used German Nouns ebook - free.
Leave your email and I’ll send you a link to the ebook. You’ll also get my occasional German-learning tips. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
Comments
Loading comments…