der
Vetter
👨👩👧👦 What exactly is a 'Vetter'?
Der Vetter (plural: die Vettern) is a German term for a male cousin, meaning the son of one's aunt or uncle.
It's important to know that the word Vetter sounds somewhat dated nowadays and is often replaced in common usage by the word Cousin, which originates from French. However, it's still used, especially in rural areas, in literature, or in more formal contexts.
🚨 Attention: Don't confuse der Vetter (male cousin) with der Neffe (nephew - son of one's brother or sister)!
Article rules for der, die, and das
Male characters → always masculine.
Caution: Most professions also have their feminine forms (e.g. die Polizistin). Some words can also have two forms: der/die Deutsche, der/die Kranke.
-er → mostly masculine.
1. Caution: many exceptions. 2. almost all -euer nouns are neutral. 3. There are many -er words, we don't list them all.
🧐 A Closer Look at the Grammar of 'der Vetter'
The word "Vetter" is a masculine noun. It always uses the article der.
| Case | Definite Article | Indefinite Article |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | der Vetter | ein Vetter |
| Genitive | des Vetters | eines Vetters |
| Dative | dem Vetter | einem Vetter |
| Accusative | den Vetter | einen Vetter |
| Case | Definite Article | Indefinite Article |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die Vettern | Vettern |
| Genitive | der Vettern | Vettern |
| Dative | den Vettern | Vettern |
| Accusative | die Vettern | Vettern |
Example Sentences
- Mein Vetter aus Hamburg kommt uns besuchen. (My cousin from Hamburg is coming to visit us.)
- Ich habe das Fahrrad meines Vetters ausgeliehen. (I borrowed my cousin's bicycle.)
- Wir haben dem Vetter zum Geburtstag gratuliert. (We congratulated the cousin on his birthday.)
- Kennst du seinen Vetter Karl? (Do you know his cousin Karl?)
- Die beiden Vettern verstehen sich gut. (The two cousins get along well.)
💬 When and How to Use 'Vetter'?
The term Vetter is used to describe a specific male family relationship: the son of one's aunt or uncle.
- Family Context: Mainly when talking about family members. Example: "Mein Vetter wohnt jetzt in Berlin." (My cousin lives in Berlin now.)
- Literary/Historical Context: In older texts or historical novels, Vetter is encountered more frequently than Cousin.
- Formal/Traditional Language: Sometimes used in more official or very traditional family settings.
Comparison with Cousin:
In modern German, Cousin (pronounced [kuˈzɛ̃ː] or Germanized [kuˈzɪn]) is the significantly more common term for a male cousin. Die Cousine refers to the female equivalent. Vetter often sounds a bit old-fashioned or regional.
The female counterpart to Vetter is die Base, but this term is even rarer than Vetter and considered very dated. Today, people almost exclusively say Cousine.
🧠 Mnemonics for 'der Vetter'
-
Article Mnemonic: Think of der Vater (the father). Der Vetter is like a distant 'little brother' or relative of your Vater (or mother) – both male, hence der Vetter.
-
Meaning Mnemonic: Imagine your aunt and uncle saying: "We vet (bet) our son will be your best friend!" – Their son is your Vetter (cousin).
🔄 Synonyms, Antonyms, and Related Terms
Synonyms
- Cousin: The most common word for Vetter today.
- (regional/archaic) Gevatter (can also mean godfather, but historically also cousin)
⚠️ Risk of Confusion
😂 A Little Joke
Lehrer: "Fritzchen, was ist der Unterschied zwischen einem Vetter und einem Cousin?"
Fritzchen: "Keine Ahnung, aber mein Vetter leiht mir immer sein Fahrrad, mein Cousin nie!"
Teacher: "Fritzchen, what's the difference between a 'Vetter' and a 'Cousin'?"
Fritzchen: "No idea, but my Vetter always lends me his bike, my Cousin never does!"
📜 A Little Poem about the 'Vetter'
Mein lieber Vetter, fern und nah,
Schön ist's, bist du mal wieder da.
Der Sohn von Tante, Onkels Kind,
Mit dem man oft viel Spaß gewinnt.
Ob Vetter oder Cousin genannt,
Ein Band uns durch die Zeit verband.
My dear cousin, far and near,
It's nice when you are here again.
The son of aunt, or uncle's child,
With whom one often has much fun, mild.
Whether Vetter or Cousin named,
A bond through time has kept us framed.
❓ Riddle Time
Ich bin der Sohn von deiner Tante,
oder deines Onkels, dem Bekannten.
Männlich bin ich, das ist klar,
Wer bin ich denn, Jahr für Jahr?
I am the son of your aunt,
Or your uncle, the acquaintance you grant.
I am male, that is clear,
Who am I then, year after year?
Solution: Der Vetter (the male cousin)
💡 More Interesting Facts
Etymology (Word Origin):
The word "Vetter" comes from the Old High German "fetiro", which originally meant "father's brother" (paternal uncle). The meaning shifted over time to the son of the uncle or aunt.
Vetternwirtschaft (Nepotism/Cronyism):
The pejorative term Vetternwirtschaft literally means "cousin economy" but refers to nepotism or cronyism – the unfair practice of favoring relatives (not just cousins!) when filling positions or awarding contracts.
📝 Summary: is it der, die or das Vetter?
The word "Vetter" is always masculine. The correct form is der Vetter (plural: die Vettern), and it refers to a male cousin. Although "Cousin" is more common today, "der Vetter" is grammatically correct.