Kinder bekommen
To have children
Wörtlich: Children to get / to receive
Use it for the event of birth or planning, but use 'haben' for existing children.
In 15 Sekunden
- Used for the act of birth or family planning.
- Equivalent to English 'to have children' in specific contexts.
- Neutral formality, safe for almost any conversation.
Bedeutung
This phrase describes the act of giving birth or the general life event of becoming a parent. It focuses on the transition into parenthood rather than the ongoing state of being a parent.
Wichtige Beispiele
3 von 6Discussing future plans with a partner
Wann wollen wir eigentlich Kinder bekommen?
When do we actually want to have children?
Announcing a birth to the family
Meine Schwester hat gestern ein gesundes Kind bekommen!
My sister had a healthy child yesterday!
A doctor asking a patient
Haben Sie bereits Kinder bekommen?
Have you already had children?
Kultureller Hintergrund
In Germany, the average age for a first-time parent is rising, often around 30-32. The phrase is central to discussions about the 'Demografischer Wandel' (demographic change), a major topic in German society and politics.
Don't mix up 'haben' and 'bekommen'
If you say 'Ich bekomme drei Kinder', people will think you are currently pregnant with triplets. Use 'Ich habe drei Kinder' for your existing family.
The 'Kriegen' Alternative
You will hear 'Kinder kriegen' constantly. It's the same meaning but feels more like 'getting' something. Use it with friends, but stick to 'bekommen' with your in-laws.
In 15 Sekunden
- Used for the act of birth or family planning.
- Equivalent to English 'to have children' in specific contexts.
- Neutral formality, safe for almost any conversation.
What It Means
This phrase is your go-to for talking about the miracle of life. It literally means "to get children." In English, we usually say "to have children." But in German, there is a tiny distinction. Kinder bekommen focuses on the event of birth. It also covers the general plan to start a family. It is warm, natural, and very common.
How To Use It
You treat bekommen like a normal verb. In the present tense, you might say ich bekomme. If you are planning for the future, use wollen. For example, Wir wollen Kinder bekommen. If the baby has already arrived, use the perfect tense. You would say Sie hat ein Kind bekommen. Notice that the word Kind becomes plural Kinder easily. It fits into almost any sentence structure.
When To Use It
Use this when chatting with friends about the future. It works perfectly at a wedding or a family dinner. You can also use it in a medical context. A doctor might ask about your history. It is safe for work, too. If a colleague is going on parental leave, this is the phrase. It is the most "all-purpose" expression for this topic.
When NOT To Use It
Don't use it if the kids are already there. If you want to say "I have three kids," use haben. Saying Ich bekomme drei Kinder sounds like you are currently pregnant with triplets! Also, avoid using kriegen in very formal settings. Kriegen is the more "street" version of bekommen. It is fine with best friends, but maybe not with your boss.
Cultural Background
Germany has a complex relationship with birth rates. It is a frequent topic in the news. People often wait until their 30s to start a family. Because of this, Kinder bekommen is a serious life milestone. There is a lot of state support like Elterngeld. This makes the conversation about having kids very practical. It is not just emotional; it is a logistical plan.
Common Variations
If you want to sound a bit more sophisticated, try Nachwuchs bekommen. This literally means "to get offspring." It sounds a bit like a newspaper announcement. For a very medical or formal vibe, use ein Kind zur Welt bringen. This means "to bring a child into the world." On the flip side, Kinder kriegen is what you'll hear at the pub. It is very casual and direct.
Nutzungshinweise
The phrase is neutral and safe for all contexts. Just remember the distinction between the event (bekommen) and the state (haben).
Don't mix up 'haben' and 'bekommen'
If you say 'Ich bekomme drei Kinder', people will think you are currently pregnant with triplets. Use 'Ich habe drei Kinder' for your existing family.
The 'Kriegen' Alternative
You will hear 'Kinder kriegen' constantly. It's the same meaning but feels more like 'getting' something. Use it with friends, but stick to 'bekommen' with your in-laws.
The 'Nachwuchs' Secret
Germans love the word 'Nachwuchs' (offspring). It's a slightly cute, slightly formal way to refer to the new arrival without saying 'Baby' every time.
Beispiele
6Wann wollen wir eigentlich Kinder bekommen?
When do we actually want to have children?
Uses 'wollen' to express a future desire.
Meine Schwester hat gestern ein gesundes Kind bekommen!
My sister had a healthy child yesterday!
Uses the perfect tense for a completed event.
Haben Sie bereits Kinder bekommen?
Have you already had children?
Formal inquiry about medical history.
Hast du gehört? Sie bekommt noch ein Kind!
Did you hear? She's having another child!
Informal gossip about a pregnancy.
Ich wollte Kinder bekommen, bis ich deine Neffen getroffen habe.
I wanted to have children until I met your nephews.
A humorous take on the desire for kids.
Wenn Mitarbeiter Kinder bekommen, gibt es verschiedene Elternzeit-Modelle.
When employees have children, there are various parental leave models.
Used in a general, professional context.
Teste dich selbst
Fill in the correct form of 'bekommen' for a past event.
Meine Nachbarin hat letzte Woche Zwillinge ___.
In the perfect tense with 'haben', the past participle of 'bekommen' is also 'bekommen'.
Choose the right verb for planning the future.
Wir möchten in zwei Jahren ein Kind ___.
'Bekommen' is the standard way to talk about the plan to start a family.
🎉 Ergebnis: /2
Visuelle Lernhilfen
Formality of 'Having Kids'
Very blunt, sometimes used for animals.
Junge werfen
Common among friends and family.
Kinder kriegen
Safe for all everyday situations.
Kinder bekommen
Used in literature or official announcements.
Ein Kind zur Welt bringen
When to say 'Kinder bekommen'
Family Dinner
Wir wollen bald Kinder bekommen.
Doctor's Office
Ich habe zwei Kinder bekommen.
Texting Friends
Sie bekommt ein Baby!
Workplace
Sie bekommt demnächst ein Kind.
Häufig gestellte Fragen
12 FragenMostly, yes. However, it specifically refers to the act of giving birth or the process of starting a family, whereas 'haben' refers to the state of being a parent.
Absolutely! A man can say Wir bekommen ein Kind (We are having a child) to refer to the couple's journey into parenthood.
It is neutral. You can use it with a doctor, your boss, or your best friend without sounding out of place.
Kriegen is much more informal. It is very common in spoken German but can sound a bit unrefined in formal writing.
You use the perfect tense: Ich habe ein Baby bekommen. The word bekommen stays the same in the past participle.
Yes, especially when discussing parental leave or life changes. It is professional and polite.
It literally means 'to get offspring.' It is a common, slightly more formal variation used in birth announcements.
Usually, bekommen implies biological birth. For adoption, people often say ein Kind adoptieren or ein Kind aufnehmen.
It's just a linguistic quirk! Think of it as 'receiving' a new member into the family.
No, for animals we usually use Junge bekommen or specific verbs like werfen (for dogs/cats).
Using bekommen when they mean they already have kids. Remember: bekommen is the event, haben is the status.
Yes, you can say ein Kind das Licht der Welt erblicken lassen (letting a child see the light of the world), but that is very dramatic!
Verwandte Redewendungen
Nachwuchs bekommen
ein Kind zur Welt bringen
schwanger sein
eine Familie gründen
Eltern werden
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