die Stiefkinder
Translation
stepchildren
Examples
Er hat zwei Stiefkinder aus erster Ehe.
He has two stepchildren from his first marriage.
Die Stiefkinder verstehen sich gut mit ihm.
The stepchildren get along well with him.
Grammar Patterns
to have stepchildren He has stepchildren.
Similar Words
Synonyms: none direct; Antonyms: leibliche Kinder (biological children)
Etymology
Composed of 'Stief-' (step-) and 'Kinder' (children). 'Stief-' derives from an Old High German word meaning 'bereaved' or 'orphaned'.
Memory Tips
The prefix 'Stief-' indicates a family relationship by marriage, not by blood. Think of stories like Cinderella to remember the context.