Großtante

Großtante is a German term for a female relative in the generation above one’s parent, commonly equated with the English term great-aunt. The primary meaning is the sister of one’s grandparent. In some family usages, the term may also be applied to the wife of a grandparent’s sibling, though this extension varies by region and household.

Etymology and spelling: Großtante combines Groß (great) and Tante (aunt). It is typically written as Großtante; alternative spellings include Groß-Tante or, less commonly, Großtante. The character ß (Eszett) appears in standard German orthography.

Relation and usage: A Großtante is two generations older than the individual. In genealogical contexts, she is the aunt by blood who is a sister of a grandparent. Some families also use the term to refer to an aunt by marriage if she is the wife of a grandparent’s sibling, though this usage is not universal and may vary.

Cultural notes: In everyday speech, people may simply say “Tante” for close relations, reserving Großtante to specify generation when needed. The exact naming can depend on family tradition and regional variation. For more distant generations, terms such as Urgroßtante are used to denote greater removal (great-great-aunt in English).

See also: Großonkel (great-uncle) and related extended-family terminology.