Whether you’re joining a club, signing up for a course, or talking about political parties or families, the word member comes up often. Knowing how to say member in German helps you express identity, affiliation, and inclusion.

The German word is das Mitglied. It’s neuter, and the plural is die Mitglieder. If you’re still learning how to tell which article to use, my gender video lesson will help make the system clear and simple.

Mitglied is one of the 1000 most frequently used nouns in German, and it shows up in conversations about everything from sports teams to political representation.

Here’s how Mitglied appears in all four cases:

Nominative:
Das Mitglied hat abgestimmt.
The member voted.

Accusative:
Wir suchen ein neues Mitglied.
We’re looking for a new member.

Dative:
Nur dem Mitglied ist das erlaubt.
Only the member is allowed to do that.

Genitive:
Die Rechte des Mitglieds wurden erweitert.
The member’s rights were expanded.

You’ll often hear Mitglied used in settings like:

  • Parteimitglied — party member

  • Familienmitglied — family member

  • Vereinsmitglied — club member

  • EU-Mitglied — EU member state

Common verbs include sein (to be), werden (to become), bleiben (to remain), ausschließen (to expel), aufnehmen (to admit).
Adjectives often include aktives (active), langjähriges (longtime), ordentliches (regular), neues (new), freiwilliges (voluntary).

Germans take club and group membership seriously — there’s even a term, Vereinsleben, for the rich social life built around clubs and associations.

Beginner dialogue using the word naturally:

A: Bist du Mitglied in einem Verein?
B: Ja, ich spiele im örtlichen Fußballverein.
A: Are you a member of a club?
B: Yes, I play in the local football club.

Your turn. Think of your answer and say it out loud using Mitglied or Mitglieder in your sentence.

“In welcher Gruppe bist du ein Mitglied — und warum?”
What group are you a member of — and why?

This short speaking practice will help lock the word into your long-term memory.

Duden entry for “Mitglied”

German Word of the Day
Now you know how to say member in German — and how das Mitglied helps you describe social belonging, roles, and inclusion in clubs, organizations, and teams.

Download the free illustrated PDF of the 1000 most frequently used nouns in German to keep building a vocabulary that actually fits real life.

Ready for more German Words of the Day?
Check out Militär — and explore how to talk about structure, service, and power.
Or revisit Mittag — and see how Germans divide their day around this simple word.

About the Author Stephan

Stephan has been a professional language teacher since the early 2000s. He's been calling Berlin his home since 2006, when he started managing (and founding his own) language schools in addition to teaching German and English. He's the owner of Deutschable and loves writing about language, history, and game changers.

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