der  Familienstand

B2

Estimated CEFR level.

/faˈmiːli̯ənʃtant/

📜 What does 'der Familienstand' mean?

Der Familienstand describes a person's legal status concerning marriage or civil partnership. It's an official piece of information often required on forms or by authorities (Behörden).

Typical options for Familienstand are:

• ledig (single / unmarried)
• verheiratet (married)
• geschieden (divorced)
• verwitwet (widowed)
• in eingetragener Lebenspartnerschaft (in a registered civil partnership - historically for same-sex couples)
• Lebenspartnerschaft aufgehoben (civil partnership dissolved - historical)

⚠️ The term refers to the legal status, not necessarily the current relationship situation (e.g., someone might be 'separated' - getrennt lebend - but legally still 'married' - verheiratet).

🧐 Grammar: Declension of Familienstand

The word 'Familienstand' is a masculine noun. Its article is der. The plural form ('die Familienstände') is rarely used, as the term usually refers to the status of one person.

Singular

Plural - Rare

📝 Examples

1. Bitte geben Sie Ihren Familienstand an. (Please state your marital status.)
2. Der Familienstand des Antragstellers ist 'ledig'. (The applicant's marital status is 'single'.)
3. Änderungen des Familienstandes müssen dem Amt gemeldet werden. (Changes in marital status must be reported to the office.)

💡 Everyday Usage

The term Familienstand is primarily used in formal or official contexts:

• Forms (Formulare): For registrations, applications (e.g., tax returns - Steuererklärung, housing applications - Wohnungsantrag), contracts.
• Authorities (Behörden): Registration office (Einwohnermeldeamt), registry office (Standesamt), tax office (Finanzamt).
• Human Resources (Personalwesen): In employee information forms or during hiring.

In normal conversation, you'd more likely ask: "Bist du verheiratet?" (Are you married?) rather than "Was ist dein Familienstand?". The latter sounds very formal or bureaucratic.

Distinction: Der Personenstand (personal status) is a broader term that includes birth, descent, and death in addition to marital status, and is officially recorded in the civil status register (Personenstandsregister).

🧠 Mnemonics to Remember

Article 'der': Think of 'the status' or 'the standing' in the family. The word ends in '-stand', which is often masculine in German (like der Stand = the state/status). So, it's der Familienstand.

Meaning: The Familie (family) has a certain legal Stand (status). How does your family 'stand' legally? That's der Familienstand.

🔄 Synonyms and Related Terms

Potential Confusion:

• Familienstand vs. Relationship Status: Familienstand is the legal status. Relationship status (e.g., 'in a relationship' - in einer Beziehung, 'engaged' - verlobt, 'single' - Single) is informal and describes the social situation.

😄 A Little Joke

German:
Fragt der Beamte: "Ihr Familienstand?"
Antwortet der Mann: "Angespannt."
Beamter: "Ich meine ledig, verheiratet, geschieden...?"
Mann: "Ach so! Ledig, verheiratet, geschieden - in genau der Reihenfolge!"

English Translation:
The official asks: "Your marital status (Familienstand)?"
The man replies: "Tense (Angespannt)."
Official: "I mean single, married, divorced...?"
Man: "Oh, I see! Single, married, divorced - in exactly that order!"

✍️ Poem about Familienstand

German:
Ob ledig, froh und ungebunden,
Ob Eheglück hat dich gefunden,
Verwitwet, traurig, leis und still,
Geschieden, weil's nicht passen will.
Der Status, amtlich und bekannt,
Ist kurz genannt: Familienstand.

English Translation:
Whether single, happy and unbound,
Or marital bliss you have found,
Widowed, sad, quiet and still,
Divorced, because it didn't fit the bill.
The status, official and known to all,
Is shortly called: Familienstand (Marital Status).

🧩 Riddle

German:
Ich sag' dir, ob du Ringe trägst,
Ob allein durchs Leben fegst.
Auf Ämtern musst du mich oft nennen,
Wirst du mich jetzt wohl erkennen?

Lösung: Der Familienstand

English Translation:
I tell if you wear rings,
Or sweep through life on single wings.
At offices, you must state my name,
Will you now recognize my fame?

Answer: Der Familienstand (Marital Status)

🌱 Word Origin

The word Familienstand is a compound noun formed from:

• Familie: Family - the social group of parents, children, relatives.
• Stand: Here in the sense of status, state, position in society or legally.

So, it literally describes the 'status regarding the family' from a legal perspective.