3

How does one pluralize a family name?

  • Wir heißen den Smiths? der Smithen?
  • Wir sind die Smith Familie?

Which of these is most natural, and which are acceptable?

Iris
  • 8,537
  • 2
  • 30
  • 57
perpetual
  • 459
  • 2
  • 7

1 Answers1

7

Usually you pluralize a family name in German with an "s":

Wir sind die Schmidts.

But your proposals also are in principle okay, albeit lightly to correct:

Wir heißen Schmidt.
Wir sind Familie Schmidt.

IQV
  • 11,526
  • 1
  • 41
  • 52
  • 3
    It is somewhat surprising for non-native speakers that the default plural inflection for things that aren't really nouns is "-s", when almost no normal German words form an "-s" plural, but it's nevertheless true. Language is fun! – Kilian Foth Oct 11 '18 at 06:29
  • 3
    +1. You can also find these two options reflected in the German titles of American sitcoms. E.g. The Jeffersons became Die Jeffersons, and The Flintstones became Die Familie Feuerstein. – johnl Oct 11 '18 at 06:30
  • @KilianFoth: I assume, that this is exactly the reason for the -s plural. One has not necessarily an idea, which language the name derives from and which declination to apply, therefore one opts for a generic/international scheme. – guidot Oct 11 '18 at 15:31