Familienmitglied

Familienmitglied is a German noun formed from Familie and Mitglied. It denotes a person who belongs to a family, i.e., someone who is part of a kinship network. The term is neutral and widely used in official, administrative, and research contexts to refer to relatives or other persons linked by family ties.

The scope of the term includes biological relatives such as Eltern (parents), Geschwister (siblings), and Kinder (children); it also encompasses spouses or registered partners, as well as adoptive relatives and other close persons within a family setting. It does not by itself specify a legal status, but in many documents it is used together with qualifiers like “nächste Familienmitglieder” to indicate priority relatives in matters such as care or inheritance.

In everyday language, “Familienmitglied” can refer to a mother, father, son, daughter, or cousin, among others. In legal, medical, or policy contexts, more precise terms (Verwandter, Ehepartner, Adoptivkind) are often preferred to describe specific relationships while maintaining the general, inclusive sense of family membership.

Etymology: the word is a compound noun from Familie and Mitglied and has been in use in modern German to describe a person belonging to a family.