English has many words for the people in a family and the people connected to them. Some words are for blood relatives, such as mother and cousin. Some words are for people connected by marriage, such as husband and in-law. Other words describe the role a person has in a home or relationship, such as partner or guardian.

In everyday conversation, people often use family words when they introduce someone, explain who lives with them, or talk about their personal life. The exact word depends on the relationship. A person can be a sister in one family and a neighbor in another conversation. The word tells the listener how the people are connected.

Core family words in everyday English

Word	Definition	Example
mother	A mother is a woman who has a child; this is the usual word for a female parent.	My mother makes the best soup.
father	A father is a man who has a child; this is the usual word for a male parent.	My father drives me to school.
sister	A sister is a girl or woman who shares a parent with you; this is a female sibling.	My sister plays tennis with me.
brother	A brother is a boy or man who shares a parent with you; this is a male sibling.	My brother can fix a bike.
child	A child is a young son or daughter; this means someone in the youngest family generation.	Their child loves story time.
husband	A husband is a man in a marriage; this is the word for a married male partner.	Her husband works from home.
wife	A wife is a woman in a marriage; this is the word for a married female partner.	His wife teaches music.

Scramble

The closest family words are mother, father, sister, brother, child, husband, and wife. A mother is a woman who has a child. A father is a man who has a child. A sister is a female sibling, and a brother is a male sibling. A child is a son or daughter.

Husband and wife describe married partners. A man is someone’s husband, and a woman is someone’s wife. In conversation, people also say my mom, my dad, my sister, and my brother. These shorter forms are very common in spoken English.

Relatives beyond the immediate family

Word	Definition	Example
grandparent	A grandparent is the parent of your mother or father; this is a grandpa or grandma.	My grandparent lives near the park.
cousin	A cousin is the child of your aunt or uncle; this is a relative in your extended family.	My cousin and I like video games.
aunt	An aunt is the sister of your mother or father, or the wife of your uncle; this is a close female relative.	My aunt sends funny postcards.
uncle	An uncle is the brother of your mother or father, or the husband of your aunt; this is a close male relative.	My uncle tells great stories.
nephew	A nephew is your brother or sister's son; this is a younger male relative.	My nephew just learned to ride a scooter.
niece	A niece is your brother or sister's daughter; this is a younger female relative.	My niece draws animals all day.
in law	An in law is a relative through marriage; this is a family member connected by marriage.	My in law came to dinner last night.

Scramble

Family does not stop with parents and children. Grandparent includes grandmother and grandfather. A cousin is the child of your aunt or uncle. An aunt is your parent’s sister, or the wife of your uncle. An uncle is your parent’s brother, or the husband of your aunt.

Two other common words are nephew and niece. A nephew is your brother’s son or your sister’s son. A niece is your brother’s daughter or your sister’s daughter. The word in-law is used for a relative through marriage, such as a mother-in-law or brother-in-law.

Roles people can have in a home

Word	Definition	Example
partner	A partner is someone you are in a close romantic relationship with; this is a person you share your life with.	My partner enjoys long walks.
fiance	A fiance is a man who is engaged to be married; this is a future husband.	Her fiance is planning the wedding.
spouse	A spouse is your husband or wife; this is a formal word for a married person.	My spouse cooks on weekends.
roommate	A roommate is someone you live with and share a room or home with; this is a person who shares living space.	My roommate always cleans the kitchen.
guardian	A guardian is an adult who is legally responsible for a child; this is the person who has care and authority.	Her guardian signs the school forms.
caregiver	A caregiver is someone who helps another person with daily care; this is a person who provides support and assistance.	The caregiver helps him get dressed.
parent	A parent is a mother or father; this is the adult who raises a child.	His parent attends every game.
sibling	A sibling is a brother or sister; this is a gender neutral word for brother or sister.	My sibling loves board games.
child	A child is a son or daughter in a family; this is a young family member.	Each child has a seat at the table.
head of household	The head of household is the main adult responsible for the home; this is the person who leads household decisions.	The head of household pays the rent.

Scramble

Some words describe a person’s role in a relationship or home rather than their exact family connection. A partner is someone you are in a romantic relationship with. A fiancé is a man who is engaged to be married, and a fiancée is a woman who is engaged to be married. A spouse is a husband or wife.

A roommate is someone you share a home with. A guardian is an adult who is legally responsible for a child. A caregiver is a person who looks after someone who needs help, such as an older adult or a sick family member. Words like parent, sibling, and child describe the family role itself. A responsible adult is the person in charge of making sure a child is safe and cared for. A head of household is the main adult responsible for the home.

Family words linked by marriage

Word	Definition	Example
mother in law	Your mother in law is the mother of your husband or wife; this is a relative through marriage.	My mother in law makes excellent tea.
father in law	Your father in law is the father of your husband or wife; this is a relative through marriage.	My father in law likes fishing.
brother in law	Your brother in law is the brother of your husband or wife, or the husband of your sibling; this is a man connected by marriage.	My brother in law helps with repairs.
sister in law	Your sister in law is the sister of your husband or wife, or the wife of your sibling; this is a woman connected by marriage.	My sister in law bakes great bread.
stepfamily	A stepfamily is a family that includes a parent, a stepparent, or stepchildren; this is a family formed after a new marriage or partnership.	Their stepfamily went to the zoo together.
stepfather	A stepfather is the husband of your mother who is not your biological father; this is a father figure by marriage.	My stepfather taught me chess.
stepmother	A stepmother is the wife of your father who is not your biological mother; this is a mother figure by marriage.	My stepmother grows flowers.
stepsister	A stepsister is the daughter of your stepfather or stepmother, or the daughter of your parent's new partner; this is a sister in a stepfamily.	My stepsister shares my love of art.
stepbrother	A stepbrother is the son of your stepfather or stepmother, or the son of your parent's new partner; this is a brother in a stepfamily.	My stepbrother rides the bus with me.
half sibling	A half sibling is a brother or sister who shares one parent with you; this is a sibling with one shared parent.	My half sibling lives in another city.

Scramble

Marriage creates new family relationships. Your spouse’s mother is your mother-in-law. Your spouse’s father is your father-in-law. Your spouse’s brother is your brother-in-law, and your spouse’s sister is your sister-in-law. These words are also used for the family members of your husband or wife.

Stepfamily words describe family relationships after a parent remarries. A stepmother is your father’s new wife. A stepfather is your mother’s new husband. A stepsister and stepbrother are children from a parent’s other relationship. The word stepfamily refers to a family with these kinds of relationships.

Common ways to describe family ties

Usage	Explanation	Example
Close relationship	Use close when people know each other well and care about each other a lot; this shows strong family connection.	I am close with my aunt.
Distant relationship	Use distant when family members do not see or talk to each other often; this shows limited contact.	We are distant from some cousins.
Friendly tone	Use friendly when family interactions are warm and pleasant; this shows a kind and easy manner.	My uncle is always friendly to everyone.
Supportive behavior	Use supportive when someone gives help or encouragement; this shows positive help in hard moments.	My sister is very supportive during exams.
Caring attitude	Use caring when a person shows concern for others; this shows kind attention to someone else needs.	She is a caring grandmother.
Strict behavior	Use strict when a parent or guardian makes firm rules and expects them to be followed; this shows strong control and clear limits.	My father is strict about bedtime.
Live with someone	Use this pattern when family members share the same home; this means they stay in the same place every day.	I live with my parents.
Get along	Use this pattern when people have a good relationship and do not fight often; this means they interact peacefully.	My brother and I get along well.

Some adjectives describe how family members feel about each other. Close means the relationship is warm and personal. Distant means the people do not see or speak to each other often. Friendly describes an easy, pleasant relationship. Supportive means a person gives help, encouragement, and practical care. Caring describes someone who shows concern for others. Strict describes a parent or relative who enforces many rules.

English also uses common patterns to describe family life. People say live with someone when they share a home. They say get along with someone when the relationship is peaceful. A person can get along with a sister, a cousin, or a parent, and the phrase works the same way in each case.

When you introduce a family member, you can say This is my... followed by the relationship word. For example, This is my mother or This is my brother. To say that people have a family connection, use We’re related.

Questions about family often begin with Do you have any... as in Do you have any brothers? or Do you have any cousins? To ask about place, use Where do they live? To ask about a person’s condition or life, use How are they? The phrase I’m close with... describes a warm relationship, as in I’m close with my aunt.

Actions and habits in family life

Word	Definition	Example
visit	To visit someone means to go and spend time with them; this is going to see family or friends.	We visit my grandparents on Sundays.
call	To call someone means to talk to them by phone; this is a way to stay in touch.	I call my sister every evening.
celebrate	To celebrate means to do something special for a happy event; this is marking a family occasion.	We celebrate birthdays with cake.
babysit	To babysit means to take care of a child for a short time; this is temporary child care.	I babysit my cousin on Fridays.
cook together	To cook together means to make food with another person; this is sharing kitchen work.	My family likes to cook together on weekends.
have dinner	To have dinner means to eat the evening meal; this is a common family routine.	We have dinner at six oclock.
argue	To argue means to speak in disagreement; this is a common word for a family fight.	The siblings argue about music sometimes.
support	To support means to help or encourage someone; this is giving practical or emotional help.	Parents support their children at school.
help	To help means to make something easier for another person; this is doing part of the work for someone.	I help my father with the shopping.
miss	To miss someone means to feel sad because they are not with you; this is feeling their absence.	I miss my aunt when she travels.

Scramble

Family life often includes regular actions. People visit relatives at home, in the hospital, or during holidays. They call family members by phone or video. They celebrate birthdays, weddings, and holidays together. A person may babysit a younger child for a few hours.

Families often cook together and have dinner together. People also argue when they disagree, and they support or help each other when someone needs assistance. The word miss is used when you want to see a family member who is far away. You can say I miss my sister or They miss their grandparents.