Birthdays. Weddings. Funerals. While our German ancestors may have lived hundreds of years ago, the life milestones we deem important today held similar significance to our relatives in the past. For us family historians, using these milestones can be extremely helpful in piecing together our ancestors’ life stories. But what if you don’t speak German?
Below, I’ve gathered together a list of 25 of the most important milestone words in German genealogy. The German word is on the left, followed by the English translation on the right. An example of the word in the old German handwriting (Kurrentschrift) is also provided.* Knowing these German words, along with a bit of the old German handwriting, can be a great help in deciphering German records and discovering the mysteries of the past (and if you would like a professional genealogy translation, you can always contact me here).
* Keep in mind that handwriting varied by person, place and time, so the handwriting sample is only provided to give you an idea of how the word might look. See Twenty Tips for Deciphering Old German Handwriting for more information.
25 Milestone Words in German Genealogy
1. Geburt: birth
2. geboren: born; also means née when before a last name
3. Kinder: children
4. ehelich: legitimate
5. unehelich: illegitimate
6. getauft: baptized
7. Taufe: baptism
8. konfirmiert: confirmed
9. ledig (led.): single, unmarried
10. verlobt: engaged
11. Ehe: marriage
12. Hochzeit/Trauung: wedding
13. geheiratet/verehelicht/getraut: married (as in the action “The man married the woman.”)
14. verheiratet: married (as in the state of being married, “He is married”)
15. Frau/Ehefrau/Gattin/Weib*: wife
*This word is related etymologically to our English word “wife.”
16. Mann/Ehemann/Gatte: husband
17. Zeugen: witnesses
18. Eltern: parents
19. Wohnort: place of residence
20. geschieden: divorced
21. Witwe: widow
22. Witwer: widower
23. gestorben: died
24. Tod: death
25. Begräbnis/Beerdigung: funeral or burial
