It’s the one who brings gifts, tells stories, or surprises you with unexpected wisdom—or cookies. In German, it’s die Tante. This is your German Word of the Day—family-centered, familiar, and one of the first relatives you’ll learn to name in German.

The noun Tante means aunt, and it’s one of the 1000 most frequently used nouns in German. Whether you're talking about your mom’s sister, your dad’s sister, or even a family friend who feels like one—Tante covers them all.

It’s a feminine noun, so we say die Tante (still not sure when to use die? Our video lesson makes gender simple and memorable).

Pronunciation

Tante is pronounced [TAN-teh]

• Tan like “tahn” (short and clear)

• te like “teh”

• Stress on the first syllable: TANte

Example sentences

• Meine Tante wohnt in München.
  My aunt lives in Munich.

• Wir besuchen am Sonntag unsere Tante.
  We’re visiting our aunt on Sunday.

• Tante Karin hat mir ein Buch geschenkt.
  Aunt Karin gave me a book.

Nuance and usage tips

👩‍👧‍👦 Tante refers to any female sibling of your parents (blood or in-law), and often also to honorary or “chosen” aunts.

Types of aunts (not always formal terms):

• Lieblingstante – favorite aunt

• Großtante – great-aunt (aunt of your parent)

• Tante mütterlicherseits / väterlicherseits – aunt on your mother’s/father’s side

• Tante Emma – literally “Aunt Emma,” but refers to a traditional small grocery store (see below!)

🗣️ Common expressions:

• Bei meiner Tante übernachten – to spend the night at my aunt’s

• Tantenbesuch – aunt visit

• Tantenkuchen – simple, homemade cake often served by aunts (used affectionately)

How does this word come up in real conversations?

• "Meine Tante ist wie eine zweite Mutter für mich."
  My aunt is like a second mother to me.

• "Die Tante von meinem Freund ist echt cool."
  My friend’s aunt is really cool.

• "Wir feiern Weihnachten immer bei meiner Tante."
  We always celebrate Christmas at my aunt’s place.

Sample Dialogue (Beginner Level)

Lukas: Wer ist das auf dem Foto?
Sophie: Das ist meine Tante Julia.
Lukas: Sieht nett aus.
Sophie: Ist sie auch – und sie backt den besten Kuchen!

Translation:
Lukas: Who’s that in the photo?
Sophie: That’s my aunt Julia.
Lukas: She looks nice.
Sophie: She is—and she bakes the best cake!

Grammatical case examples

Nominative:
Die Tante kommt morgen zu Besuch.
The aunt is coming to visit tomorrow.

Accusative:
Ich rufe die Tante später an.
I’ll call the aunt later.

Dative:
Wir helfen der Tante beim Tragen.
We’re helping the aunt carry things.

Genitive:
Das ist das Haus der Tante.
That’s the aunt’s house.

Word variations and language tidbits

• Tantenkind – child of your aunt (i.e. cousin)

• Tantenstil – “aunty style” (teasing term for old-fashioned fashion)

• Tante Emma Laden – old-school general store (now used nostalgically)

• Tantenname – affectionate nickname only your aunt calls you by

• Tantchen – diminutive, affectionate version: “little auntie”

🛒 Fun fact: The phrase „Tante-Emma-Laden“ refers to small, local corner shops common in mid-20th-century Germany—often owned by women, hence the “Aunt Emma” name. You’ll still see it used to describe cozy, old-fashioned stores today.

📘 Duden entry: https://www.duden.de/rechtschreibung/Tante
🎥 Want to feel at home with German family terms? Our free video course teaches the top 1000 nouns—like Tante—with context, examples, and tips you’ll actually remember.

Ready for more German Words of the Day?
Do you know what Tanz means? Your Tante might love to do one at weddings.
And what about Tasche? Chances are, your Tante always has snacks in hers.