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.
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Pronunciation:
Sohn is pronounced [zohn]
Rhymes with “tone”
Starts with a soft German “z” (like “ts”)
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!
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 Enkelsohn (grandson), Pflegesohn (foster son), Adoptivsohn (adopted son), and Ziehsohn (protégé or symbolic son). 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.
📘 Duden entry for Sohn
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