These phrases will help you describe family members, talk about family life, and express your feelings about family relationships in everyday English.
Immediate Family
Immediate family includes the closest relatives in your household, such as parents, siblings, and children. These phrases help you talk about the most important family members and your relationships with them.
| English Phrase | Example Sentence |
|---|---|
| My parents | My parents live in New York. |
| My brother/sister | My sister is two years older than me. |
| My child/children | I have two children, a boy and a girl. |
| My husband/wife | My husband cooks dinner every night. |
| My son/daughter | My daughter loves to read books. |
| We are a close family | We are a close family and spend weekends together. |
| I have one sibling | I have one sibling, a younger brother. |
| Only child | I’m an only child, so I have no brothers or sisters. |
| Family dinner | We have a family dinner every Sunday. |
| Stay in touch | I always stay in touch with my parents by phone. |
Extended Family
Extended family includes relatives beyond your immediate family, such as grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins. These phrases help you talk about a larger family circle.
| English Phrase | Example Sentence |
|---|---|
| My grandparents | My grandparents live in the countryside. |
| My aunt/uncle | My aunt is coming to visit us next week. |
| My cousin | I have a cousin who lives in Canada. |
| Family reunion | We have a family reunion every summer. |
| Distant relatives | We have some distant relatives in Australia. |
| Family tree | I’m interested in learning about my family tree. |
| Close-knit family | We are a close-knit family and support each other. |
| Extended family | My extended family is very large and spread out. |
| Generations | Three generations live together in my house. |
| Passed down | This necklace was passed down from my grandmother. |
Talking About Family Life
These phrases help you describe daily life, routines, and special moments with your family. They are useful for sharing your experiences and feelings.
| English Phrase | Example Sentence |
|---|---|
| Family time | I try to spend quality family time every evening. |
| Raise children | It’s a big responsibility to raise children. |
| Family traditions | We have family traditions during the holidays. |
| Get along with | I get along with my siblings very well. |
| Take care of | I take care of my younger brother after school. |
| Parenting is hard | Parenting is hard but very rewarding. |
| Support each other | In our family, we always support each other. |
| Family rules | Our family rules include no phones at the dinner table. |
| Celebrate together | We celebrate birthdays together as a family. |
| Holiday gatherings | Holiday gatherings are always full of laughter and food. |
I take care of my younger brother after ___.
school
'After school' is a common time to take care of younger siblings. 'After work' is for adults, and 'after dinner' or 'after play' are less common time references for this context.
Emotional Expressions
These phrases help you express your feelings about your family relationships, whether they are positive, complicated, or somewhere in between.
| English Phrase | Example Sentence |
|---|---|
| I love my family | I love my family very much. |
| Family means everything | To me, family means everything. |
| We have our ups and downs | We have our ups and downs, but we always make up. |
| Feel close to | I feel close to my grandmother. |
| Family support is important | Family support is important during tough times. |
| Sometimes we argue | Sometimes we argue, but it doesn’t last long. |
| I’m grateful for my family | I’m grateful for my family’s love and support. |
| Family bonds | Family bonds can be very strong. |
| Miss my family | I miss my family when I’m away from home. |
| Family is unconditional love | Family is unconditional love, no matter what. |
I ___ my family very much.
love
'Love' expresses a deep, strong positive emotion. 'Like' is milder, 'hate' is negative, and 'ignore' means to pay no attention.
Useful Questions
These questions are helpful for making small talk, getting to know someone, or starting a conversation about family in English.
| English Phrase | Example Sentence |
|---|---|
| Do you have any siblings? | Do you have any siblings? |
| Are you close to your family? | Are you close to your family? |
| How many people are in your family? | How many people are in your family? |
| Do you have children? | Do you have children? |
| Who do you live with? | Who do you live with? |
| What’s your family like? | What’s your family like? |
| Do you have any family traditions? | Do you have any family traditions? |
| Where does your family live? | Where does your family live? |
| Do you get along with your siblings? | Do you get along with your siblings? |
| Have you met your extended family? | Have you met your extended family? |
Flashcards (1 of 50)
- Example Sentence: My parents live in New York.
- English Phrase: My parents
Last updated: Wed Jun 18, 2025
