nounnoun

der Angehörige, –

relatives · relative

Menschen, die zu einer Familie oder einem engen Freundeskreis gehören.

Definition & meaning

The word "Angehörige" has two primary meanings depending on the context:

Relative or family member: It refers to a person who is related to someone else by blood, marriage, or adoption. This is the most common usage when discussing personal connections.
Member of a group or organization: It refers to someone who belongs to a specific social, political, religious, or professional group (e.g., a member of a club, a religious community, or the armed forces).

Grammar & Word origin

"Angehörige" is a feminine noun. It is a substantivized participle derived from the verb "angehören" (to belong to).

Prefix "an-": Indicates attachment or orientation toward something.
Verb "gehören": To belong.

Grammatically, "Angehörige" is used as a feminine noun when referring to a female person. When referring to a male person, the form is "Angehöriger". When referring to a group of people (plural), the form remains "Angehörige".