Topics / Family Vocabulary
Family Vocabulary in English
Parents, children, relatives, and the words for weddings, birthdays, and home life. 75 words, A1 to C1.
75 words
Parents and Children
FamilyA1A group of people who are related, such as parents and children.“I love my family.”MotherA1A female parent.“My mother is at home.”FatherA1A male parent.“My father is a teacher.”ParentA1A mother or a father.“Her parents are both teachers.”MumA1An informal British word for mother.“My mum is a teacher.”DadA1An informal word for father.“My dad is a driver.”BrotherA1A boy or man with the same parents as you.“My brother is older than me.”SisterA1A girl or woman with the same parents as you.“My sister lives in Islamabad.”SonA1A male child.“Their son is eight.”DaughterA1A female child.“They have one daughter.”ChildA1A young person.“Every child needs love.”ChildrenA1The plural of child: more than one young person.“The children are at school.”BabyA1A very young child.“The baby is sleeping.”InfantB1A very young child; in England, infant school is for the youngest primary years.“The infant clinic moved to Thursday after the GP merger.”TeenagerA1A person aged between 13 and 19.“She is a teenager now.”AdultA2A person who is fully grown; not a child.“Only adults can buy a ticket here.”TwinA1One of two children born to the same mother at the same time.“She has a twin brother.”CareA2To look after someone, or to feel that something is important.“She cares about her friends and takes care of her brother.”LoveA1To like someone or something very much.“I love my family.”HugA2To put your arms around someone to show love or friendship.“She hugged her friend at the airport.”KissA2To touch someone with your lips to show love or say hello or goodbye.“She kissed her mum goodbye at the gate.”NannyA1A person whose job is to look after children in their home.“Their nanny collects them from school.”BabysitterB1A person who looks after children for a short time while the parents are out.“A babysitter for the staff event still needs a DBS check if it is on site.”NurseryA2A place where young children are looked after while parents work; also a plant shop.“She drops her son at the nursery at eight.”School RunB1The regular trip of taking children to or from school by car (UK, often the school run).“Park off-site on the school run; the zigzag lines are not a waiting bay.”AllowanceB2Money given regularly for a purpose, or an amount of something you are allowed.“Students receive a small travel allowance.”HouseholdB1All the people who live together in one house.“There are four people in our household.”HomeA1The place where you live.“Let’s go home.”UpbringingB2The way a child is raised and the teaching they receive at home (usually uncountable).“Comment on upbringing only with a named fact from the source, the English paper said.”GuardianB1A person legally responsible for a child; also someone who protects a place or idea.“A parent or guardian must sign the trip letter.”
Relatives
RelativeA1A person in your family.“We are visiting relatives this weekend.”CousinA1The child of your aunt or uncle.“My cousin lives in Karachi.”UncleA1The brother of your mother or father, or your aunt’s husband.“My uncle is a driver.”AuntA1The sister of your mother or father, or your uncle’s wife.“My aunt lives in Islamabad.”NephewA1The son of your brother or sister.“My nephew is five years old.”NieceA1The daughter of your brother or sister.“My niece is five years old.”GrandmotherA2The mother of your mother or father.“I visit my grandmother every Sunday.”GrandfatherA2The father of your mother or father.“My grandfather tells stories about his childhood.”GrandparentA2The parent of your mother or father.“My grandparent still lives above the old bakery.”GrandmaA1An informal word for your grandmother.“My grandma makes soup on Sundays.”GrandpaA1An informal word for your grandfather.“Grandpa is in the garden.”GrandchildA2The child of your son or daughter.“Grandad took his grandchild to the city farm.”AncestorB2A person in your family who lived a long time ago.“Her ancestors came from Ireland.”DescendantC1A person (or animal) who comes from an ancestor later in the family line.“She is a descendant of the town’s first teacher.”GenerationB1All the people born around the same time.“The younger generation uses phones more.”KinB2A person’s family and relations (usually uncountable; next of kin is the closest relative).“Next of kin featured on the consent form, not a family-tree hobby site.”ClanB2A group of families claiming a common ancestor, or an informal close group.“Name the clan as the source names it; do not write “tribe” if the extract says clan.”TribeB2A group of people who share ancestry and culture; informally, a group with a shared interest.“Name the group as the source names it; do not write “a tribe” if the extract says nation or clan.”SurnameA1Your family name (British).“My surname is Khan.”HeirB2A person who will receive money, property, or a title when someone dies.“The heir to the estate endowed a bursary for care leavers.”InheritB1To receive money, property, or a situation from someone after they die, or from the past.“She inherited the flat from her grandmother.”OrphanB2A child whose parents have died; as a verb, to leave someone without parents.“The history source counts war orphans, not a sentimental caption.”WidowC1A woman whose husband or wife has died and who has not married again.“A widow’s pension clause is a named entitlement, not a caption.”
Partnership and Life Events
HusbandA1The man that a woman is married to.“Her husband is a teacher.”WifeA1The woman that a man is married to.“His wife is a doctor.”MarriedA2Having a husband or wife.“My sister is married and lives in Lahore.”MarriageA2The legal relationship of two people who are married.“They had a small marriage ceremony in the town hall.”WeddingA2The ceremony when two people get married.“We went to my cousin’s wedding in May.”Wedding RingB1A ring worn to show that you are married.“She left her wedding ring next to the soap dish by accident.”BoyfriendA1A man or boy that someone is in a romantic relationship with.“Her boyfriend is a student.”GirlfriendA1A woman or girl that someone is in a romantic relationship with.“His girlfriend lives in Karachi.”PartnerA2A person you do something with, such as live with or work with.“She is my tennis partner.”EngagedB1Busy with something; also having agreed to marry; also involved and interested.“The line was engaged, so she emailed the office instead.”EngagementB2Involvement with an activity or issue; also an agreement to marry; also a formal appointment.“The consultation showed low public engagement in the poorer wards.”PregnantB2Having a baby or young animal developing inside the body; also full of meaning (a pregnant pause).“The health paper uses pregnant with a stated trimester, not a rumour.”PregnancyB2The state of having a baby developing inside the body.“Teenage pregnancy rates featured in the health-inequality chart.”BirthB1The time when a baby or animal comes out of its mother and starts life.“Please write your date of birth on the form.”BirthdayA1The day each year that is the same date as the day you were born.“Her birthday is in March.”BornA2Brought into the world as a baby (used in be born).“She was born in Karachi in 2010.”AdoptB2To take a child legally as your own; also to start using a method or policy.“The board adopted a new marking scheme after the appeal.”AdoptionB2The act of taking a child as your own, or of starting to use a new idea or method.“The adoption of the new timetable caused confusion.”FosterB1To encourage something to develop; also to look after a child as a foster carer.“The scheme aims to foster reading in the first year of secondary.”DivorceB1The legal ending of a marriage; as a verb, to end a marriage that way.“The charity advises parents on housing after divorce.”SingleA2Only one; not married or not with a partner.“There is a single ticket left for the show.”CustodyB2The legal right to look after a child; also being held by the police.“The court granted her custody of the children.”