die  Schwiegermutter

A2

Estimated CEFR level.

/ˈʃviːɡɐˌmʊtɐ/

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Who is the Schwiegermutter?

The German noun die Schwiegermutter refers to the mother of one's spouse (husband or wife). It describes a relationship by marriage (affinity).

• There's only this one meaning for the word, and it always takes the article die because it refers to a female person.

🚨 There are no exceptions or common mistakes regarding the article for this word.

Article rules for der, die, and das

🧐 Grammar Focus: Declining Schwiegermutter

The noun 'Schwiegermutter' is feminine. Here are the declension tables:

Example Sentences

• Meine Schwiegermutter kommt am Wochenende zu Besuch.
  (My mother-in-law is visiting on the weekend.)
• Ich habe meiner Schwiegermutter zum Geburtstag gratuliert.
  (I congratulated my mother-in-law on her birthday.)
• Das Verhältnis zu den Schwiegermüttern kann manchmal kompliziert sein.
  (The relationship with mothers-in-law can sometimes be complicated.)
• Er versteht sich gut mit seiner Schwiegermutter.
  (He gets along well with his mother-in-law.)

💬 How to Use Schwiegermutter

The term Schwiegermutter is used in everyday language to refer to the mother of one's husband or wife.

• Context: Family conversations, both formal and informal settings.
• Nuances: The word itself is neutral, but the relationship with the Schwiegermutter is often the subject of jokes or cultural stereotypes (sometimes positive, sometimes negative). In some families, a pet name (like Schwiegermama or Schwiegermutti) or the first name is used, while in others, the formal term 'Schwiegermutter' is common.
• Distinction: Don't confuse it with 'Stiefmutter' (stepmother: the father's wife who is not the biological mother) or 'Großmutter' (grandmother: mother of a parent).

🧠 Mnemonics to Remember

Article Mnemonic: Remember: A Mutter (mother) is always female, so it's die Schwiegermutter. The article 'die' typically goes with female persons in German.

Meaning Mnemonic: Imagine getting married, and your spouse's mother seems a bit sweeter (sounds vaguely like Schwieger-) than you expected – she's your new Schwiegermutter! (This is just a sound association, not the real origin.)

↔️ Opposites and Similar Terms

Similar but Different Terms

• Stiefmutter: Stepmother (father's wife, not biological mother).
• Großmutter: Grandmother (parent's mother).

😂 A Little Joke

Friend asks: "Na, wie war der Urlaub mit deiner Schwiegermutter?" (Well, how was the vacation with your mother-in-law?)

Man replies: "Super! Sie hat nur einmal gemeckert." (Great! She only complained once.)

Friend asks: "Nur einmal? Wann denn?" (Only once? When?)

Man replies: "Vom ersten bis zum letzten Tag!" (From the first day to the last!)

✍️ Poem about the Schwiegermutter

Die Mutter meines Schatzes hier,
nennt man im Land als Schwiegertier?
Nein, halt! Das war nicht nett gemeint,
Schwiegermutter, oft wie Freund. Mal Rat, mal Tat, mal Kuchen fein,
so kann 'ne Schwiegermutter sein.

--- English Translation ---

My sweetheart's mother, standing near,
Is she sometimes called a 'Schwiegertier'? [Playful, slightly negative term]
No, wait! That wasn't meant with spite,
A Schwiegermutter, often a friend so bright.
Sometimes advice, sometimes a deed, a tasty cake,
That's how a mother-in-law can make
Your life quite nice, it's understood,
A Schwiegermutter can be good.

❓ Riddle Time

Ich bin die Mutter deines Manns,
oder deiner Frau, voll Eleganz.
Durch Heirat werd' ich dir bekannt,
wie werd' ich offiziell genannt?

--- English Translation ---

I am the mother of your man,
Or of your wife, part of the clan.
Through marriage, I become known to you,
What official title is my due?

Solution: die Schwiegermutter (the mother-in-law)

✨ More Insights

Word Composition

The word 'Schwiegermutter' is composed of:

• Schwager/Schwäher: Related terms indicating relationship by marriage. The Old High German word 'swigar' already meant mother-in-law. The prefix 'Schwieger-' generally denotes relationships acquired through marriage (e.g., Schwiegersohn - son-in-law, Schwägerin - sister-in-law).
• Mutter: Mother.

Cultural Aspects

The relationship with the Schwiegermutter is a common theme in culture, from jokes and comedies to serious family dramas. Stereotypes range from the overbearing to the critical mother-in-law, but reality is, of course, diverse.