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These German words can help parents, babysitters and language learners talk about babies and everyday family life. The first section gives child-language expressions; the later sections use ordinary vocabulary for care, pregnancy and birth.
Baby talk varies greatly by family and region. A child may have a private name for a bottle or toy that other German speakers do not use. Learn the ordinary word alongside the affectionate form.
Baby talk and ordinary alternatives
| German | English |
|---|---|
| Mama / Papa | mum / dad |
| Oma / Opa; Omi / Opi | grandma / grandpa; affectionate forms |
| der Wauwau | doggy; child-language word for Hund |
| Aua! / das Wehwehchen | Ouch! / a little hurt or complaint |
| Pipi / Kaka | child-language words for pee / poo |
| Hoppla! | Oops! |
| Brumm, brumm! / der Töfftöff | engine sound / child-language word for a vehicle |
| in die Heia gehen | to go to bed (child language) |
| Bubu machen | to sleep (family/child language) |
| winke, winke machen | to wave bye-bye |
| Kikeriki! | Cock-a-doodle-doo! |
| Kuckuck! | Peekaboo! |
| der Ball | ball |
| der Schnuller; Schnulli / Nucki | pacifier; affectionate family names |
| das Fläschchen | baby bottle |
Pregnancy and birth vocabulary
| German | English |
|---|---|
| die Schwangerschaft | pregnancy |
| schwanger | pregnant |
| die Hebamme | midwife |
| die Geburt / die Entbindung | birth / delivery |
| der Kreißsaal | delivery room |
| die Entbindungsstation | maternity ward |
| die Kinderklinik | children’s hospital/clinic |
| die Frauenklinik | women’s hospital/gynecological clinic |
| der Frauenarzt / die Frauenärztin | gynecologist |
| der Kinderarzt / die Kinderärztin | pediatrician |
| der Geburtstermin / der errechnete Entbindungstermin | due date / estimated delivery date |
| das Stillen; stillen | breastfeeding; to breastfeed |
| die Antibabypille | contraceptive pill |
| das Fruchtwasser | amniotic fluid |
| die Muttermilch | breast milk |
| die Nabelschnur | umbilical cord |
| die Wehen | contractions |
| die Fehlgeburt | miscarriage |
| der Gebärmutterhals | cervix |
| der Muttermund | opening of the cervix |
| die Gebärmutter | uterus |
| der Kaiserschnitt | caesarean section |
| die Plazenta / der Mutterkuchen | placenta |
Caring for a child
| German | English |
|---|---|
| einen Kinderwagen schieben | to push a stroller/pram |
| ein Lätzchen umbinden | to put a bib on someone |
| Babynahrung zubereiten | to prepare baby food |
| das Baby füttern | to feed the baby |
| ein Buch vorlesen | to read a book aloud |
| Benimm dich! | Behave yourself! |
| loben | to praise |
| festhalten | to hold on to / hold firmly |
| das Baby baden | to bathe the baby |
| einen Kindersitz kaufen | to buy a child car seat |
| ein Nickerchen machen | to take a nap |
| ein Schlaflied singen | to sing a lullaby |
| die Kleidung wechseln | to change clothes |
| die Windel wechseln | to change the nappy/diaper |
Wauwau refers to a dog or its sound, not music. Happi/Happa commonly refers to food in family language rather than being a standard word for a pacifier. Expressions such as Balla or private bottle names are variable; Ball, Schnuller and Fläschchen will be more widely understood.
Useful sentences
| German | English |
|---|---|
| Ich bin schwanger. | I am pregnant. |
| Sie ist im vierten Monat schwanger. | She is in the fourth month of pregnancy. |
| Bei ihr wird eine Ultraschalluntersuchung gemacht. | She is having an ultrasound examination. |
| Der errechnete Geburtstermin ist im Winter. | The estimated due date is in winter. |
| Wir haben uns noch nicht für einen Namen entschieden. | We have not decided on a name yet. |
| Nach dem Essen gehen wir in die Heia. | After eating, we go to bed. |
| Hast du Hunger? Möchtest du dein Fläschchen? | Are you hungry? Would you like your bottle? |
| Ich lese dir ein Buch vor. | I will read you a book. |
| Halt dich gut fest! | Hold on tightly! |
Mutterschutz refers to maternity protection, including workplace protections and protected periods; it is not simply a word-for-word equivalent of paid maternity leave. Financial benefits and eligibility are separate questions. The Federal Ministry’s explanation gives the current official details.
For German-language pregnancy information and terminology, familienplanung.de is a useful public information resource. In a consultation, ask for clarification when a medical term is unfamiliar: Könnten Sie mir das bitte erklären? — Could you please explain that to me?
Everyday expressions about new parents
Frischgebackene Eltern means new parents; its literal image is “freshly baked”. Einen Braten in der Röhre haben is an informal expression for being pregnant, roughly English “having a bun in the oven”. It can sound jokey or dated, so ordinary schwanger sein is often more suitable.
Songs to explore together
- The Sesamstraße theme: repeated articles and question words make it memorable. Find programme information and official material through NDR’s Sesamstraße page.
- Alle Vögel sind schon da: a traditional spring song. Notice die Vögel (birds), singen (sing) and der Frühling (spring).
- Backe, backe Kuchen: a traditional baking song. Learn der Zucker, das Salz, die Butter, die Eier and das Mehl. Schmalz means lard and Safran means saffron.
- Es tanzt ein Bi-Ba-Butzemann: a traditional action song. Listen for tanzen, sich schütteln and das Säckchen (little bag). Versions vary, so follow the words of the recording you choose.
Sing a short section, repeat a useful word and connect it with an object or action. Lyrics and pronunciation may vary by recording.
Films for school-age children and learners
These stories are options to investigate rather than recommendations for every age. Check the exact film version, current rating, themes and your child’s interests before choosing. Streaming availability depends on country and service.
- Stella und der Stern des Orients: Stella discovers a hidden lift and travels back into her family’s past. This is a fantasy adventure; the trigger is a lift, not an ordinary wardrobe.
- Emil und die Detektive: a boy and a group of children investigate a theft. Several adaptations exist; Goethe-Institut offers teaching material for one film version.
- Die Blindgänger: blind teenagers Marie and Inga form a band with Herbert, who wants to return to Kazakhstan. Music and friendship are central themes.
German-language shows
German-language children’s television includes domestic and international productions. A dubbed show can also be useful for language exposure; familiar characters sometimes help a learner follow the story.
- Lauras Stern: stories about Laura and her star friend.
- Käpt’n Blaubär: comic seafaring tales associated with Walter Moers, including exaggerated storytelling.
- Die Biene Maja at KiKA: adventures of Maja, with characters such as Flip. The classic and newer 3D versions differ.
- Die Ottifanten: a cartoon family based on Otto Waalkes’s elephant characters.
- Wickie und die starken Männer: a young Viking uses clever ideas to solve problems. There are classic and newer versions.
Look for official broadcaster or distributor offerings for the version you want. Online episode lists and territorial availability change; a video on a third-party channel is not a promise of an official complete series.
Practice
Translate: the pacifier / the delivery room / to change the diaper / I will read you a book.
Check the answers
der Schnuller; der Kreißsaal; die Windel wechseln; Ich lese dir ein Buch vor.
