Appearance
Vocab: Family — B1
Family vocabulary at B1 level.
Maskulin Feminin Neutrum Plural
adoptieren — to adopt
adoptieren is a regular weak verb and takes haben in the perfect: hat adoptiert. Unlike many verbs, verbs ending in -ieren form the Partizip II without ge-.
Sie adoptiert ein Kind.
She is adopting a child.
Sie means she, and ein Kind means a child. Ein Kind is accusative because adoptieren takes a direct object; the finite verb adoptiert stands in position two.
Das Paar hat ein Kind adoptiert.
The couple adopted a child.
das Paar means the couple, and ein Kind means a child. Ein Kind is accusative because adoptieren takes a direct object; hat is in position two and the Partizip II adoptiert goes to the end.
Sie adoptierte einen Jungen aus dem Ausland.
She adopted a boy from abroad.
einen Jungen means a boy, and aus dem Ausland means from abroad. Einen Jungen is accusative because it is the object of adoptieren; the preterite verb adoptierte stands in position two.
Adoptiere kein Kind aus Mitleid.
Do not adopt a child out of pity.
kein Kind means no child, and aus Mitleid means out of pity. Adoptiere is the informal singular imperative, so du is omitted; the accusative object follows the imperative verb.
Ich würde gern ein Kind adoptieren.
I would like to adopt a child.
würde gern means would like to, and ein Kind means a child. Ein Kind is accusative because it is the object of adoptieren; würde occupies position two and the infinitive goes to the end.
Wir werden bald ein Kind adoptieren.
We will adopt a child soon.
bald means soon, and ein Kind means a child. Ein Kind is accusative because adoptieren takes a direct object; werden is in position two and the infinitive adoptieren stands at the end.
der Bräutigam — bridegroom, groom
Bräutigam is the usual German word for a man at his wedding or a man who is engaged to be married. The female equivalent is Braut, meaning bride.
Der Bräutigam wartet vor der Kirche.
The bridegroom is waiting in front of the church.
wartet means is waiting, and vor der Kirche means in front of the church. Der Bräutigam is nominative because it is the subject, and the finite verb wartet stands in position two.
Die Gäste begrüßen den Bräutigam herzlich.
The guests warmly welcome the bridegroom.
Die Gäste means the guests, begrüßen means welcome, and herzlich means warmly. Den Bräutigam is accusative because begrüßen takes a direct object; the masculine article changes from der to den.
Die Fotografin spricht mit dem Bräutigam.
The photographer speaks with the bridegroom.
Die Fotografin means the female photographer, and spricht means speaks. Mit always takes the dative, so dem Bräutigam is dative; unlike a weak noun, Bräutigam does not add -n here.
Das Lächeln des Bräutigams ist nervös.
The bridegroom’s smile is nervous.
Das Lächeln means the smile, and nervös means nervous. Des Bräutigams is genitive because it shows possession, and the noun takes -s in the genitive singular.
Die Bräutigame tragen dunkle Anzüge.
The bridegrooms are wearing dark suits.
tragen means are wearing, and dunkle Anzüge means dark suits. Die Bräutigame is nominative plural because it is the subject; the plural adds -e.
die Eheschließung — marriage ceremony, legal marriage
Eheschließung is a formal and legal word for getting married or the marriage ceremony. In everyday speech, Hochzeit is more common for the celebration.
Die Eheschließung findet im Rathaus statt.
The marriage ceremony takes place at the town hall.
findet statt means takes place, das Rathaus means the town hall, and statt is the separated part of the verb. Die Eheschließung is nominative because it is the subject; the separable verb has findet in position two and statt at the end.
Das Paar plant die Eheschließung im Sommer.
The couple is planning the wedding in summer.
Das Paar means the couple, plant means is planning, and im Sommer means in summer. Die Eheschließung is accusative because planen takes a direct object; feminine die looks the same in nominative and accusative.
Die Gäste gratulieren dem Paar zur Eheschließung.
The guests congratulate the couple on the marriage.
Die Gäste means the guests, gratulieren means congratulate, and zur means to the. Zur Eheschließung is dative because zu requires the dative; zur is short for zu der, and gratulieren also takes a dative person.
Der Termin der Eheschließung steht schon fest.
The date of the marriage is already fixed.
Der Termin means the date or appointment, steht fest means is fixed, and schon means already. Der Eheschließung is genitive because it identifies which date is meant; feminine genitive uses der without changing the noun.
In Deutschland sind viele Eheschließungen standesamtlich.
In Germany, many marriages are civil ceremonies.
In Deutschland means in Germany, viele means many, and standesamtlich means civil or registered by the civil authorities. Eheschließungen is plural with -en, and the plural verb sind agrees with it.
der Erbe — male heir, inheritor
This masculine noun means a male heir or inheritor. der Erbe is a weak masculine noun, so it takes -n in the accusative, dative, and genitive singular as well as in the plural.
Der Erbe wohnt in Berlin.
The heir lives in Berlin.
wohnt means lives, and in Berlin gives the place. Der Erbe is nominative because he is the subject; the finite verb wohnt stands in position two.
Das Gericht ruft den Erben.
The court summons the heir.
das Gericht means the court, and ruft means calls or summons. den Erben is accusative because it is the object of ruft; the weak masculine noun adds -n outside the nominative singular.
Wir helfen dem Erben bei den Formalitäten.
We help the heir with the formalities.
helfen means to help, and die Formalitäten means the formalities or required procedures. helfen takes a dative person, so the form is dem Erben; the weak noun again has -n.
Das Testament des Erben ist nicht auffindbar.
The heir's will cannot be found.
das Testament means the will, and nicht auffindbar means cannot be found. des Erben is genitive and means “of the heir”; Erben has -n because this is a weak masculine noun.
Die Erben teilen das Haus.
The heirs divide the house.
teilen means divide or share, and das Haus means the house. Erben is plural nominative as the subject, while das Haus is accusative as the object of teilen.
das Erbe — inheritance; legacy
In everyday use, das Erbe usually means property received after someone's death; it can also mean a legacy or influence passed on to later generations. Do not confuse it with der Erbe, which means heir.
Das Erbe ist noch nicht verteilt.
The inheritance has not yet been divided.
noch nicht verteilt means not divided yet. Das Erbe is nominative because it is the subject, and the finite verb ist is in position two; verteilt comes at the end as part of the predicate.
Sie hat das Erbe angenommen.
She accepted the inheritance.
angenommen means accepted. Das Erbe is accusative because annehmen takes a direct object, while hat ... angenommen forms the perfect and places the participle at the end.
Mit dem Erbe kaufte er ein Haus.
He bought a house with the inheritance.
mit means with, and kaufte means bought. Dem Erbe is dative because mit always governs the dative; the prepositional phrase comes first, so kaufte is still in position two.
Die Höhe des Erbes war eine Überraschung.
The amount of the inheritance was a surprise.
die Höhe means the amount or size, and eine Überraschung is a surprise. Des Erbes is genitive because it shows whose amount is meant; the neuter noun takes -es in the genitive.
Viele Erben wohnen in verschiedenen Städten.
Many heirs live in different cities.
viele means many, and verschiedenen Städten means different cities. Erben is the plural form here and is nominative because it is the subject; do not confuse it with the singular inheritance das Erbe.
der Familienbetrieb — family business, family-run business
Familienbetrieb is a compound of Familie, “family”, and Betrieb, “business” or “enterprise”. It usually suggests a small or medium-sized business managed by family members, not simply any business owned by a family.
Der Familienbetrieb verkauft frisches Brot.
The family business sells fresh bread.
verkauft means “sells”, and frisches Brot means fresh bread. Der Familienbetrieb is nominative because it is the subject, while frisches Brot is accusative because verkaufen takes a direct object; verkauft is in position two.
Die Stadt unterstützt den Familienbetrieb.
The town supports the family business.
die Stadt is the town or city, and unterstützt means “supports”. den Familienbetrieb is accusative because unterstützen takes a direct object; the finite verb unterstützt stands in position two.
Wir helfen dem Familienbetrieb mit der Werbung.
We help the family business with the advertising.
helfen means “help”, mit der Werbung means “with the advertising”, and die Werbung is advertising. dem Familienbetrieb is dative because helfen governs the dative; mit also takes the dative.
Der Erfolg des Familienbetriebs hängt von den Kunden ab.
The success of the family business depends on the customers.
der Erfolg is the success, hängt ... ab means “depends”, and die Kunden are the customers. des Familienbetriebs is genitive because it shows possession; the separable verb abhängen splits in the main clause, with hängt in position two and ab at the end.
Viele Familienbetriebe verkaufen regionale Produkte.
Many family businesses sell regional products.
viele means “many”, regionale Produkte are regional products, and verkaufen means “sell”. Familienbetriebe is plural and nominative as the subject; regionale Produkte is accusative as the object.
der Geburtsname — birth name, former family name
The Geburtsname is the name someone had at birth, often before a name change after marriage. It is not always the same as the current family name.
Mein Geburtsname steht noch auf alten Dokumenten.
My birth name is still on old documents.
alte Dokumente means old documents. Mein Geburtsname is nominative because it is the subject, and the finite verb steht is in position two.
Ich muss meinen Geburtsnamen im Formular eintragen.
I have to enter my birth name on the form.
das Formular is a form, and eintragen means to enter or fill in. Meinen Geburtsnamen is accusative because eintragen takes a direct object; the modal verb muss is in position two and eintragen goes to the end.
Sie hat ihrem Anwalt den Geburtsnamen genannt.
She told her lawyer her birth name.
ihrem Anwalt means to her lawyer, and genannt means named or told. Ihrem Anwalt is dative because it is the recipient, while den Geburtsnamen is accusative; hat ... genannt forms the perfect.
Die Änderung des Geburtsnamens kostet eine Gebühr.
Changing the birth name costs a fee.
die Änderung means the change, and eine Gebühr is a fee. Des Geburtsnamens is genitive because it identifies whose change it is; the masculine noun has -s and the article is des.
Viele Menschen führen nach der Heirat zwei Geburtsnamen.
Many people use two birth names after getting married.
viele Menschen means many people, and nach der Heirat means after marriage. Geburtsnamen is plural after zwei, and nach takes the dative in der Heirat.
die Kindertagesstätte — daycare centre, day nursery
This is a more formal term than die Kita, and it covers different forms of daytime childcare. The compound ends in die Stätte, so it is feminine and has the plural Kindertagesstätten.
Die Kindertagesstätte öffnet um sieben Uhr.
The daycare centre opens at seven o'clock.
öffnet means opens, and um sieben Uhr means at seven o'clock. Kindertagesstätte is nominative because it is the subject; the finite verb öffnet stands in position two.
Die Stadt baut eine neue Kindertagesstätte.
The city is building a new daycare centre.
Die Stadt means the city, baut means is building, and eine neue means a new. Eine neue Kindertagesstätte is accusative because bauen takes a direct object; the finite verb baut stands in position two.
Die Eltern sprechen mit der Kindertagesstätte.
The parents are talking with the daycare centre.
Die Eltern means the parents, and sprechen means speak or talk. Mit always takes the dative, so the phrase is mit der Kindertagesstätte; the finite verb sprechen stands in position two.
Die Leitung der Kindertagesstätte informiert die Eltern.
The management of the daycare centre informs the parents.
Die Leitung means the management, informiert means informs, and die Eltern means the parents. Der Kindertagesstätte is genitive because it identifies which centre has the management; the finite verb informiert stands in position two.
In unserer Stadt fehlen Kindertagesstätten.
Our city lacks daycare centres.
In unserer Stadt means in our city, fehlen means are lacking, and unserer means our. Kindertagesstätten is plural and is the subject of fehlen; the finite verb stands in position two, after the introductory location phrase.
die Kindheit — childhood
Kindheit refers to the whole period of being a child, not just one event. It is formed from Kind, child, with the ending -heit, which often creates abstract nouns.
Die Kindheit prägt viele Menschen.
Childhood shapes many people.
prägt means shapes or influences, and viele Menschen means many people. Die Kindheit is nominative because it is the subject, and the finite verb prägt is in position two.
Sie erinnert sich oft an die Kindheit.
She often remembers childhood.
sich erinnern means to remember, and oft means often. The fixed preposition an takes accusative with this meaning, so die Kindheit is accusative; the verb phrase is split, with erinnert in position two.
Er erzählt seinen Freunden von der Kindheit.
He tells his friends about his childhood.
erzählt means tells, seinen Freunden means his friends, and von means about or from. Von always takes dative, so der Kindheit is dative; seinen Freunden is also dative because erzählen can take the person told in the dative.
Die Erinnerungen der Kindheit bleiben lange.
The memories of childhood remain for a long time.
die Erinnerungen means the memories and bleiben means remain or stay. Der Kindheit expresses the connection “of childhood,” so it is genitive; with a feminine noun, the form Kindheit itself does not change.
Ihre Kindheiten waren sehr unterschiedlich.
Their childhoods were very different.
ihre means their, waren means were, and unterschiedlich means different. Kindheiten is plural because several people had different childhoods; the finite verb waren is in position two.
scheiden — to separate, to divide; to divorce
This transitive use is formal; everyday German often uses trennen. The fixed phrase jemanden von etwas scheiden takes an accusative person and von plus dative for the thing.
Das Sieb scheidet den Sand vom Wasser.
The sieve separates the sand from the water.
das Sieb is a sieve, der Sand is sand, and das Wasser is water. Den Sand is accusative because it is the object of scheidet; vom Wasser means from the water and vom governs the dative.
Das Verfahren hat die Stoffe voneinander geschieden.
The process separated the substances from one another.
das Verfahren means the process, die Stoffe means the substances, and voneinander means from one another. Die Stoffe is accusative, and geschieden stands at the end with hat because this is the perfect.
Der Richter schied die beiden Gruppen.
The judge separated the two groups.
der Richter means the judge and beide Gruppen means both groups. Die beiden Gruppen is accusative, and schied is the strong preterite in position two.
Scheide die Farben sorgfältig!
Separate the colours carefully!
die Farben means the colours and sorgfältig means carefully. Scheide is the singular imperative; the subject du is omitted, and die Farben is accusative.
Wenn er die guten von den schlechten Beispielen schiede, wäre die Aufgabe leichter.
If he separated the good examples from the bad ones, the task would be easier.
guten and schlechten mean good and bad, Beispiele means examples, and leichter means easier. Schiede is Konjunktiv II for an unreal condition; in the wenn clause the verb goes to the end, while von takes the dative.
Das neue Verfahren wird die Stoffe voneinander scheiden.
The new process will separate the substances from one another.
neu means new, das Verfahren means process, and voneinander means from one another. Die Stoffe is accusative, and the infinitive scheiden goes to the end after wird.
Sie scheidet sich von ihrem Mann.
She is divorcing her husband.
ihr Mann means her husband. Sich refers back to the subject, and von ihrem Mann uses the dative because von always governs the dative.
Das Paar hat sich im letzten Jahr scheiden lassen.
The couple got divorced last year.
das Paar means the couple and im letzten Jahr means last year. The common expression is sich scheiden lassen; in the perfect, hat comes early and the infinitives scheiden lassen stand at the end.
die Scheidung — divorce
The legal verb is sich scheiden lassen. The noun refers to the legal process or its result, not simply to living apart.
Die Scheidung ist jetzt rechtskräftig.
The divorce is now legally final.
jetzt means now, and rechtskräftig means legally final. Die Scheidung is nominative because it is the subject, and ist is in position two.
Das Gericht hat die Scheidung ausgesprochen.
The court pronounced the divorce.
das Gericht means the court and ausgesprochen means pronounced or officially declared. Die Scheidung is accusative because it is the object of ausgesprochen; the participle goes to the end after hat.
Nach der Scheidung lebt sie allein.
After the divorce, she lives alone.
nach means after, lebt means lives, and allein means alone. Nach always takes the dative, so the feminine article is der.
Die Folgen der Scheidung waren schwer.
The consequences of the divorce were difficult.
die Folgen means the consequences and schwer means difficult or serious. Der Scheidung is genitive because it tells us which consequences are meant.
Viele Scheidungen verlaufen friedlich.
Many divorces proceed peacefully.
viele means many, verlaufen means proceed, and friedlich means peacefully. Scheidungen is plural and the subject, so the verb has the plural form verlaufen.
die Schwangerschaft — pregnancy
The noun refers both to the medical condition and to the months during which someone is pregnant. Useful expressions include während der Schwangerschaft and eine Schwangerschaft bestätigen.
Die Schwangerschaft verläuft bisher ohne Probleme.
The pregnancy has gone smoothly so far.
verlaufen means to progress or go, bisher means so far, and ohne Probleme means without problems. Die Schwangerschaft is nominative because it is the subject, and verläuft stands in position two.
Die Ärztin begleitet die Schwangerschaft sorgfältig.
The doctor carefully monitors the pregnancy.
die Ärztin means the female doctor, begleitet means accompanies or monitors, and sorgfältig means carefully. Die Schwangerschaft is accusative because begleiten takes a direct object; the feminine article looks the same in nominative and accusative.
Während der Schwangerschaft braucht sie viel Ruhe.
During the pregnancy, she needs a lot of rest.
während means during, braucht means needs, viel means a lot of, and Ruhe means rest. In this everyday use, während takes the genitive, so the phrase is während der Schwangerschaft; the finite verb braucht is in position two.
Die Dauer der Schwangerschaft ist unterschiedlich.
The length of the pregnancy varies.
die Dauer means length or duration and unterschiedlich means different or varying. Der Schwangerschaft is genitive because it specifies the duration of what; feminine genitive has no noun ending change.
Viele Schwangerschaften verlaufen gesund.
Many pregnancies progress healthily.
viele means many, verlaufen means progress or go, and gesund means healthily or in a healthy way. Schwangerschaften is plural and nominative because it is the subject; the plural ending -en is added to the singular noun.
die Schwägerin — sister-in-law
Schwägerin can mean your spouse's sister or your sibling's wife. The plural is Schwägerinnen, not Schwägerins.
Meine Schwägerin wohnt in Hamburg.
My sister-in-law lives in Hamburg.
meine means my, and wohnt means lives. Meine Schwägerin is nominative because it is the subject; the finite verb wohnt stands in position two.
Ich besuche meine Schwägerin am Sonntag.
I am visiting my sister-in-law on Sunday.
besuche means visit, and am Sonntag means on Sunday. meine Schwägerin is accusative because it is the object of besuche; the finite verb stands in position two.
Ich helfe meiner Schwägerin beim Umzug.
I am helping my sister-in-law with the move.
helfe means help, beim Umzug means with the move, and meiner means my in the feminine dative. helfen takes a dative person, so meiner Schwägerin is dative.
Das Auto meiner Schwägerin ist sehr alt.
My sister-in-law's car is very old.
das Auto means the car, and sehr alt means very old. meiner Schwägerin is genitive because it shows possession; the finite verb ist stands in position two.
Die Schwägerinnen treffen sich jedes Jahr.
The sisters-in-law meet every year.
treffen sich means meet each other, and jedes Jahr means every year. Schwägerinnen is the plural subject, and sich shows that the group meets one another.
der Stamm — trunk, stem; tribe, lineage
For a tree, der Stamm is the trunk. The word can also mean a tribe, a family line or the stem of a word; these meanings are listed separately.
Der Stamm des Baumes ist sehr dick.
The trunk of the tree is very thick.
des Baumes means of the tree, and dick means thick. Der Stamm is nominative because it is the subject, while des Baumes is genitive because it shows which tree the trunk belongs to; ist stands in position two.
Der Sturm beschädigt den Stamm.
The storm damages the trunk.
der Sturm means the storm, and beschädigt means damages. Den Stamm is accusative because it is the direct object of beschädigen; the finite verb beschädigt is in position two.
Ein Vogel sitzt auf dem Stamm.
A bird is sitting on the trunk.
ein Vogel means a bird, and sitzt means is sitting. Auf dem Stamm is dative because auf describes a fixed location; the finite verb sitzt stands in position two.
Die Farbe des Stammes ist dunkel.
The colour of the trunk is dark.
die Farbe means the colour, and dunkel means dark. Des Stammes is genitive because it identifies whose colour is meant; ist is in position two.
Die Stämme liegen im Wald.
The trunks are lying in the forest.
liegen means are lying, and im Wald means in the forest. Stämme is the plural subject, so the verb is liegen; the umlaut changes Stamm to Stämme.
Der Stamm lebt seit Jahrhunderten in dieser Region.
The tribe has lived in this region for centuries.
seit Jahrhunderten means for centuries, and diese Region means this region. Der Stamm is nominative because it is the subject; the finite verb lebt stands in position two.
Sie gehört zu dem Stamm.
She belongs to the tribe.
sie means she, and gehört zu means belongs to. Zu dem Stamm is dative because zu always takes the dative; the finite verb gehört is in position two.
die Tagesmutter — childminder, daycare mother
die Tagesmutter is a woman who provides childcare during the day, often in her own home. The masculine counterpart is der Tagesvater, though Tagesmutter is more common.
Die Tagesmutter betreut vier Kinder.
The childminder looks after four children.
betreut means looks after or cares for, and vier Kinder means four children. Die Tagesmutter is nominative because she is the subject, while vier Kinder is accusative because betreuen takes a direct object.
Wir suchen eine Tagesmutter.
We are looking for a childminder.
wir means we and suchen means are looking for. eine Tagesmutter is accusative because it is the object of suchen; the feminine article looks the same in nominative and accusative.
Das Kind bleibt bei der Tagesmutter.
The child stays with the childminder.
das Kind means the child and bleibt means stays. bei der Tagesmutter is dative because bei always takes dative; bleibt is in position two.
Die Adresse der Tagesmutter steht im Vertrag.
The childminder's address is in the contract.
die Adresse means the address, steht means is written or appears, and der Vertrag means the contract. der Tagesmutter is genitive because it shows whose address it is; im Vertrag means in the contract and is dative after in for a fixed location.
Viele Tagesmütter arbeiten selbstständig.
Many childminders work independently.
viele means many and selbstständig means independently or self-employed. Tagesmütter is plural and the subject, so the verb is arbeiten; the plural changes u to ü.
die Trauung — wedding ceremony, marriage ceremony
Trauung is the formal word for the official ceremony, especially in a registry office or church. The people getting married can be called das Brautpaar, the bridal couple.
Die Trauung findet am Samstag statt.
The wedding ceremony is taking place on Saturday.
findet statt means takes place, and am Samstag means on Saturday. Die Trauung is nominative because it is the subject; the separable verb stattfinden splits, with findet in position two and statt at the end.
Wir planen die Trauung im Garten.
We are planning the wedding ceremony in the garden.
Wir planen means we are planning, and im Garten means in the garden. Die Trauung is accusative because planen takes an accusative object; im Garten is dative because it describes a fixed location.
Die Gäste gratulieren dem Paar bei der Trauung.
The guests congratulate the couple at the wedding ceremony.
Die Gäste means the guests, gratulieren means congratulate, and dem Paar means the couple. Bei always takes the dative, so der Trauung is dative; gratulieren also takes a dative person, dem Paar.
Die Musik der Trauung war sehr schön.
The music of the wedding ceremony was very beautiful.
Die Musik means the music, and sehr schön means very beautiful. Der Trauung is genitive because it identifies which music; the feminine genitive article is der, although the noun itself does not change.
Im Sommer gibt es viele Trauungen.
There are many wedding ceremonies in summer.
Im Sommer means in summer, gibt es means there are, and viele means many. Trauungen is plural after viele; the phrase es gibt takes an accusative object, although the plural form looks the same in the nominative and accusative.
der Vorfahr — ancestor, forefather
Vorfahr is a person from an earlier generation of a family, not simply any old person. It is a weak masculine noun: use der Vorfahr only in the nominative singular and den Vorfahren, dem Vorfahren, or des Vorfahren elsewhere.
Mein Vorfahr kam aus Österreich.
My ancestor came from Austria.
mein means my, and kam means came; Österreich is Austria. Mein Vorfahr is nominative because it is the subject, and the weak noun has no extra ending in this case.
Ich kenne meinen Vorfahr nicht.
I do not know my ancestor.
kennen means to know someone, and nicht means not. Meinen Vorfahren is accusative because kennen takes a direct object; as a weak masculine noun, Vorfahr becomes Vorfahren outside the nominative.
Ich erzähle meinem Vorfahr von meinem Leben.
I tell my ancestor about my life.
erzählen means to tell, and mein Leben means my life. Meinem Vorfahren is dative because erzählen gives the person told the dative; the preposition von also requires the dative.
Das Tagebuch meines Vorfahren ist sehr alt.
My ancestor's diary is very old.
das Tagebuch means diary, mein means my, and sehr alt means very old. Meines Vorfahren is genitive because it shows possession, and the weak noun takes -en in this case.
Viele Vorfahren lebten auf dem Land.
Many ancestors lived in the countryside.
viele means many, lebten means lived, and auf dem Land means in the countryside. Vorfahren is plural and nominative as the subject; its plural form is identical to the weak noun's oblique singular form.
die Witwe — widow
Die Witwe is a woman whose husband has died. The plural is die Witwen; the related masculine word is der Witwer, a widower.
Die Witwe lebt allein in dem großen Haus.
The widow lives alone in the large house.
lebt allein means lives alone, and das große Haus means the large house. Die Witwe is nominative because it is the subject; the finite verb lebt stands in position two.
Ich besuche die Witwe morgen.
I am visiting the widow tomorrow.
besuche means am visiting, and morgen means tomorrow. Die Witwe is accusative because besuchen takes a direct object; the finite verb besuche is in position two.
Ich helfe der Witwe beim Umzug.
I am helping the widow with the move.
helfe means help, der Witwe means the widow, and der Umzug means the move. Helfen takes a dative object, so the feminine article changes to der; beim means bei dem and also introduces the dative.
Das Auto der Witwe steht vor dem Haus.
The widow's car is standing in front of the house.
das Auto means the car, steht means is standing, and vor dem Haus means in front of the house. Der Witwe is genitive because it shows possession, meaning the car belongs to her; the genitive form looks like the dative form, so the context is important.
Viele Witwen treffen sich jeden Mittwoch.
Many widows meet every Wednesday.
viele means many, treffen sich means meet one another, and jeden Mittwoch means every Wednesday. Witwen is the plural after viele; the reflexive pronoun sich refers back to the plural subject.
der Witwer — widower
Der Witwer is a man whose wife has died. Its plural is die Witwer, with no ending; the related feminine word is die Witwe.
Der Witwer wohnt seit einem Jahr allein.
The widower has been living alone for a year.
wohnt allein means lives alone, and seit einem Jahr means for a year. Der Witwer is nominative because it is the subject; seit takes the dative, so einem Jahr is dative.
Die Familie besucht den Witwer oft.
The family often visits the widower.
die Familie means the family, besucht means visits, and oft means often. Den Witwer is accusative because besuchen takes a direct object; the masculine article changes from der to den.
Die Nachbarn helfen dem Witwer im Garten.
The neighbours help the widower in the garden.
die Nachbarn means the neighbours, helfen means help, and im Garten means in the garden. Dem Witwer is dative because helfen takes a dative object; im is short for in dem, also dative for a location.
Das Haus des Witwers liegt am See.
The widower's house is by the lake.
das Haus means the house, liegt means is situated, and am See means by the lake. Des Witwers is genitive because it shows possession; this noun adds -s and its article is des.
Zwei Witwer sitzen auf der Bank.
Two widowers are sitting on the bench.
zwei means two, sitzen means are sitting, and die Bank means the bench. Witwer has no plural ending; auf der Bank uses the dative because it describes a fixed location.