Verwandt

Verwandt is a German adjective that describes a connection between two or more people through kinship, whether by blood, marriage, or another familial bond. It can describe general relation or specify a particular link, for example in phrases like „verwandt mit …“ or simply „sie sind verwandt“.

Usage and grammar

Verwandt can function attributively or predicatively. Examples: „eine verwandte Familie“ (attributive) and „Sie sind verwandt“ (predicative). The more precise relations are often expressed with compounds such as blutsverwandt (blood-related), verwandtschaft (kinship), or der Verwandtschaftsgrad (degree of kinship). The common construction „verwandt mit …“ indicates a connection to a specific person or family.

Etymology and scope

The term belongs to the core vocabulary of kinship terminology in German. It originates from older Germanic roots and the general semantic family of words that denote being linked or joined. The prefix ver- in German often signals a direction or result, while the root relation is carried by the underlying concept of connectedness or lineage.

Related terms and nuances

Verwandt is broader than blood relation and can include connections by marriage or other social ties. Verwandtschaft is the abstract noun for kinship, while blutsverwandt emphasizes biological relation. In genealogical or legal contexts, precise terms such as Verwandtschaftsgrad or gesetzliche Verwandtschaft distinctions may be used to specify the nature of the link.

Notes

There is no widely known work or organization named simply „Verwandt“ as a proper noun; in most contexts it appears as a descriptive adjective rather than an entity.